Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: May 19, 2022
Date Accepted: Jan 30, 2023
Comparing the Use of a Mobile App for Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Influenza Immunization to a Web-Based platform: a Randomized Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Vaccine safety surveillance is a core component of vaccine pharmacovigilance. In Canada, active, participant-centred vaccine surveillance is available for influenza vaccines and has been used for COVID vaccines.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to pilot the use a mobile immunization app augmented for safety reporting during the annual influenza vaccine campaign.
Methods:
Participants were randomized to influenza vaccine safety reporting via a mobile app or an online survey. All participants were invited to complete a user experience survey.
Results:
Among the 2,485 randomized participants, 1,319 (54%) completed their safety survey one week after vaccination, with a higher completion rate among the online survey users (n=767/1,196, 64%) compared to mobile app users (n=552/1,212, 45%, p<0.0001). Ease of use ratings were high for online users (99% strongly agree or agree) and 88.8% strongly agreed or agreed that the system made reporting AEFI easier. Online survey users agreed the online survey would make it easier for public health to detect vaccine safety signals (91.4%, agreed or strongly agreed).
Conclusions:
Participants in this study were significantly more likely to respond to an online safety survey rather than within a mobile app. These results suggest online surveys may have a lower barrier for use.
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