Optimizing mood prior to influenza vaccination in older adults: A three-arm randomized controlled trial.
Kieran Ayling, Michaela Brown, Sophie Carlisle, Robert Bennett, Heather Buchanan, Jennifer Dumbleton, Christopher Hawkey, Katja Hoschler, Ruth H Jack, Jonathan Nguyen-Van-Tam, Simon Royal, David Turner, Maria Zambon, Lucy Fairclough, Kavita Vedhara
Author Information
Kieran Ayling: School of Medicine, University of Nottingham. ORCID
Michaela Brown: School of Medicine, University of Nottingham.
Sophie Carlisle: School of Medicine, University of Nottingham. ORCID
Robert Bennett: Rehab Studio Ltd.
Heather Buchanan: School of Medicine, University of Nottingham.
Jennifer Dumbleton: Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Queens Medical Centre Campus, University Hospital.
Christopher Hawkey: Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Queens Medical Centre Campus, University Hospital.
Katja Hoschler: Respiratory Virus Unit, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Ruth H Jack: School of Medicine, University of Nottingham.
Jonathan Nguyen-Van-Tam: School of Medicine, University of Nottingham.
Simon Royal: University of Nottingham Health Service, Cripps Health Centre. ORCID
David Turner: School of Medicine, University of Nottingham.
Maria Zambon: Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Queens Medical Centre Campus, University Hospital.
Lucy Fairclough: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham.
Kavita Vedhara: School of Medicine, University of Nottingham. ORCID
OBJECTIVE: This trial explored the psychological and immunological effects of two brief interventions, targeting improving positive mood, administered to older adults immediately prior to influenza vaccination. The primary aim was to examine whether the interventions resulted in greater positive mood compared to usual care, and if so, which was superior. Secondary outcomes included antibody responses to vaccination and feasibility of collecting clinical outcome data (e.g., respiratory infections). METHOD: Six hundred and fifty-four older adults (65-85 years) participated in a three-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial between September 2019 and May 2020. Immediately prior to receiving an adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (Fluad, Seqirus UK Ltd), participants viewed one of two brief (15-min) video-based positive mood interventions (one fixed content, one allowing participant choice) or received usual care. State affect was measured immediately prior to, and following, intervention exposure or usual care. Antibody responses were measured prevaccination and 4 weeks postvaccination. Clinical outcomes were extracted from primary care records for 6 months following vaccination. RESULTS: Both interventions were equally effective at improving mood prior to vaccination compared to usual care. Antibody responses were highly robust with postvaccination seroprotection rates of > 88% observed for all vaccine strains. Antibody responses did not significantly differ between groups. Clinical outcome data were feasible to collect. CONCLUSIONS: Brief psychological interventions can improve mood prior to vaccination. However, altering antibody responses to highly immunogenic adjuvanted vaccines may require more targeted or prolonged interventions. The provision of choice did not notably enhance the interventions impact on mood or antibody outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
