Using Theory to Drive Influenza Related Text Messaging Interventions: A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Development of the Theory Based Influenza Related Text Messages Content for Clarity, Internal Consistency, and Content Validity

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice recommends all children be vaccinated annually against Influenza. Given the increased use of technology as a strategy to increase immunization coverage, theory-based text messaging may result in higher vaccination rates than traditional vaccine reminders. This article describes the development of theory-based text messages for parents of 5 to 8-year-old children that can be implemented in primary care settings. The development of the text messages was guided by constructs from the Health Belief Model. A pilot study was conducted with community pediatric vaccine health care providers (n = 6), and parents of 5 to 8-year-old children (n = 8) to evaluate the text message content for clarity, internal consistency, and content validity. The evaluation results indicated that our intervention was successful in creating a low cost, theory-based educational intervention that garnered community investment and met the cultural relevance and literacy needs of the priority population.