Increased Access to Web-Based Information Improved Parents’ Attitudes Toward Childhood Vaccination

Parents who were hesitant about vaccinating their children were more likely to change their minds when they were given access to Web-based information on childhood vaccinations, according to a new AHRQ-funded study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Nearly 1,100 parents participated between 2013 and 2016 in the randomized control trial consisting of three arms: parents with access to a website with vaccine information and interactive social media components; parents with access to a website with vaccine information; and parents who were provided usual care, meaning they did not receive the Web-based and social media messages. Based on parents’ survey responses during pregnancy and when their children reached 3–5 months and 12–15 months of age, the two Internet-based interventions were associated with significant reductions in parental concerns about vaccination risks compared with those receiving usual care. Access the abstract.

2018 Jul;55(1):44-54. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.04.010. Epub 2018 May 14.

Addressing Parents' Vaccine Concerns: A Randomized Trial of a Social Media Intervention.

Daley MF1, Narwaney KJ2, Shoup JA2, Wagner NM2, Glanz JM3.

Author information

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Successful strategies are needed to address parental vaccine hesitancy, a significant public health issue. The study objective was to assess whether an Internet-based platform with vaccine information and interactive social media components improved parents' vaccine-related attitudes.

STUDY DESIGN:

A three-arm RCT.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS:

The study was conducted in a large Colorado integrated healthcare organization. Parents were enrolled during September 2013 through October 2015 and followed through November 2016; data were analyzed in 2017. Parents, recruited during pregnancy, were given a survey about vaccine-related attitudes at enrollment (i.e., baseline) and when their child was aged 3-5 months and 12-15 months (Timepoints 1 and 2, respectively). Parental vaccine hesitancy was assessed at baseline.

INTERVENTION:

Study participants were randomized to the following: a study website with vaccine information and social media components (VSM arm); a website with vaccine information only (VI); or usual care.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Change in parental vaccine attitudes over time by baseline degree of vaccine hesitancy.

RESULTS:

Among 1,093 study participants, 945 (86.5%) completed all three surveys. Comparing baseline with Timepoint 1 among vaccine-hesitant parents, the VSM and VI arms were associated with significant improvements in attitudes regarding vaccination benefits compared to usual care (VSM mean change 0.23 on a 5-point scale, 95% CI=0.05, 0.40, VI mean change 0.22, 95% CI=0.04, 0.40). Comparing baseline with Timepoint 2 among hesitant parents, the VSM and VI arms were also associated with significant reductions in parental concerns about vaccination risks compared to usual care (VSM mean change -0.37, 95% CI= -0.60, -0.14, VI mean change -0.31, 95% CI= -0.55, -0.07). Self-efficacy around vaccine decision making also improved among vaccine-hesitant parents. No intervention effect was observed among parents not vaccine-hesitant at baseline.