Provider Education on Communication Techniques to Address Vaccine-Hesitancy in Pediatric Primary Care

Abstract

Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project sought to increase providers’ knowledge andawareness of effective communication strategies to improve interactions with vaccine-hesitant patients and their families. The primary objective was to conduct an informative and impactful educational seminar focused on evidence-based communication techniques that promote vaccine adherence among families reluctant to comply with routine childhood immunizations within the pediatric primary care setting. Background: Noncompliance with recommended routine childhood immunizations has become an escalating concern in the United States, leading to diminished herd immunity and the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases within the pediatric population. Many parents express uncertainty regarding the necessity of vaccinations and express concerns about potential side effects. Simultaneously, numerous healthcare providers lack confidence in their ability to effectively communicate with these families, resulting in many children remaining unvaccinated. Implementing evidence-based communication strategies has demonstrated effectiveness in positively influencing discussions with vaccine-hesitant parents. Methods: This QI project was conducted at a single outpatient pediatric clinic and employed a quasi-experimental design to facilitate education among pediatric healthcare team members. The intervention consisted of a pretest and posttest framework paired with an educational PowerPoint presentation focusing on the AIMS strategy, an evidence-based communication approach. Approximately 50 team members were recruited through convenience sampling, and participants completed pre- and post-surveys to evaluate their knowledge of the AIMS strategy, comfort levels in its application, and intent to implement it in practice. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze and interpret the collected data. Results: Of the approximately 35 team members who attended the educational session, 17 completed the pretest survey, while 10 completed the posttest survey. Analysis of the survey data revealed an overall positive response to the seminar, indicating a significant increase in providers' knowledge of the AIMS technique. Furthermore, the majority of providers expressed a willingness to implement this strategy in their clinical practice. Conclusion: The findings from this QI project suggest that an educational seminar focused on an evidence-based communication strategy for engaging vaccine-hesitant families effectively enhanced providers' knowledge and awareness of effective communication techniques within the pediatric clinic setting. The presentation emerged as a successful intervention, with the potential to positively influence discussions with families at this clinic. Future research could explore the impact of this strategy on vaccination rates within the pediatric population served by this clinic.