ICHAT - Improving Communication and Health for Adolescents with Technology

Improving Communication and Health for Adolescents with Technology (ICHAT) is an intervention study intended to overcome patient and healthcare provider barriers to HPV vaccination using health information technology.

Background

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S., and the cause of cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine is recommended for females 11-12 years and those 13-26 years who are unvaccinated. Multiple barriers impede vaccine receipt, including infrequent use of healthcare by teens, competing healthcare priorities, and missed opportunities for vaccination during healthcare visits. HPV vaccination rates are low.

Purpose

This study focuses on the translation of evidence-based practices of immunization delivery to the delivery of HPV vaccine to teens. It consists of a health information technology intervention in inner-city clinics to improve delivery of HPV vaccine to underserved teens.

Project Goals

• Measure baseline rates of missed opportunities for HPV vaccination, vaccination intervals, overall HPV vaccination rates, and rates of health maintenance visits in 4 urban practices.

• Implement provider prompting in all practices and measure the before and after impact on missed opportunities.

• Use a randomized controlled trial to study phone and text message reminders in inner-city practices to decrease intervals between HPV vaccination doses and increase overall HPV vaccination rates.

• Measure post-intervention rates and the impact of the intervention on missed opportunities, vaccination intervals, overall HPV vaccination rates, and health maintenance visits.

The ICHAT study is funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.