Yokley & Glenwick (1984): Community Interventions to Improve Child Immunisation Rates

What was the aim of Yokley & Glenwick's 1984 study?

To evaluate the impact of four conditions for motivating parents to have their children immunised.

What was the target population in the study?

Children under the age of five who needed one or more inoculations.

How many preschool children were initially chosen for the study?

2101 preschool children.

What was the final sample size after attrition?

715 children.

What was the gender distribution of the final sample?

50% male and 50% female.

What type of study design was used in this research?

Field experiment with a longitudinal design.

What was the purpose of the random allocation of participants?

To avoid confounding variables and ensure unbiased results.

What was included in the mailed out general prompt?

A reminder for parents about their child's vaccination needs without specific details.

What additional information was provided in the specific prompt?

A personalized message including the child's name and specific vaccination details.

What incentive was offered in the monetary incentive group?

$175.00 in cash prizes for parents who brought their children for immunisation.

What were the two control groups in the study?

Contact control group and no contact control group.

What was the main dependent variable in the study?

The number of children receiving one or more immunisations at the clinic.

What was the effectiveness order of the interventions after follow-ups?

Monetary incentive was the most effective, followed by specific prompt + extended hours, specific prompt, and general prompt.

What was the percentage increase in immunisations after 2 months for the monetary incentive group?

34.4%.

What ethical concern was raised regarding parental consent?

Parents were not aware they were participants and did not provide consent.

What was a strength of the research regarding ethical considerations post-study?

Both control groups received a specific prompt letter after data collection.

What is a potential limitation regarding the generalisability of the study's results?

Results may not generalise to other cultures or socioeconomic backgrounds.

What is the significance of the study's findings in practical applications?

It suggests that incentivised programmes can help increase immunisation rates in low uptake areas.

What was the internal validity strength of the study?

Random allocation minimized bias from participant variables.

What was the reliability of the study attributed to?

Standardized procedures that allow for replication of the research.

What was a concern regarding the sample size in the study?

The final sample was 36.9% smaller than the original sample, which could introduce bias.

How did the researchers ensure children were not at risk during the study?

They focused on parental behavior and ensured follow-up reminders for vaccinations.

What was the follow-up duration for participants in the study?

Participants were followed up at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 3 months.

What was the increase in immunisations after 3 months for the specific + monetary incentive group?

31.6%.

What was the main conclusion drawn from the study?

Behavioural incentives effectively motivate parents to immunise their children.

What was the effect of the specific prompt on immunisation rates?

It showed significant increases in immunisations during follow-ups.

What was the main focus of Yokley & Glenwick's research?

The behavior of parents in getting their children vaccinated.