Strategy to increase vaccination coverage in diabetic patients at a public tertiary university hospital: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether there is an increase in vaccination rates of patients with diabetes mellitus who received guidance to update their vaccination schedules for influenza, hepatitis B, pneumonia, and tetanus. METHODOLOGY: A randomized controlled trial was conducted between December 2018 and November 2020. The sample consisted of 139 patients from the endocrinology service outpatient clinic of Santa Maria University Hospital was randomized into an intervention group (n = 68) and a control group (n = 71). The intervention consisted of a phone call to update the vaccination schedule for the diseases evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 59.17 ± 12.91 years and 62.6% were female. No age differences were observed between genders and randomization groups (p = 0.548, p = 0.791) and groups were homogeneous (p = 0.173, p = 0.443). The intervention group showed a significant increase in vaccination rates after the intervention. For influenza, 79.4–89.7% (p = 0.016); hepatitis B, 29.4–48.5% (p = 0.002); tetanus, 51.5–72.1% (p = 0.007); and pneumonia, 22.1–29.4% (p = 0.049). No significant increase was observed in control group. CONCLUSION: The orientation to update the vaccination schedule through telephone contact was effective in increasing vaccination rates for influenza, hepatitis B, pneumonia, and tetanus. TRIAL REGISTRY: RBR-92z99d2 https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-92z99d2