TY - JOUR
T1 - A qualitative study examining pediatric clinicians’ perceptions of delayed vaccine schedules
AU - Butler, Anne M.
AU - Grabinski, Victoria F.
AU - Boloker, Gabrielle D.
AU - Newland, Jason G.
AU - Politi, Mary C.
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was supported in part by funds from the Center for Health Economics and Policy Pilot Funding Program at the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis. This project was also supported by the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (grant UL1TR000448 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health to AMB). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2020/6/19
Y1 - 2020/6/19
N2 - Objective: To explore pediatric clinicians’ attitudes, beliefs, and perceived social norms about the impact of delayed vaccine schedules on the clinical management of their patients. Methods: We conducted 30 semi-structured qualitative interviews with academic (Infectious Diseases, Emergency Medicine) and community pediatric clinicians (General Pediatrics) to explore clinicians’ perspectives on how delayed schedules influence their clinical management of patients. The interview guide was based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. We analyzed interview transcripts using both an inductive and deductive thematic approach. Results: The pediatric clinicians in our study overwhelmingly supported the recommended schedule, sought guidance on approaches to navigating conversations with vaccine hesitant families, and desired more evidence to effectively promote on-time vaccination. Clinicians described how delayed schedules have consequences for sick children (e.g., increased antibiotics, laboratory tests, emergency department visits) and healthy children (e.g., increased vaccine visits, out-of-pocket costs, fears among children receiving frequent shots). Clinicians stated that delayed schedules also negatively impact pediatric practices (e.g., increased time counseling patients, staff burden, clogged clinic space, unpredictable vaccine utilization, costs). Conclusions: Pediatric clinicians perceive that delayed vaccine schedules negatively affect patients, pediatric practices, the healthcare system, and society. Future research should quantify the consequences of delayed schedules and identify strategies that promote vaccine adherence. Results from future studies can better support clinician-parent conversations about vaccine hesitancy, guide decision-makers about practice-level approaches to vaccine schedules, and advise payors and policymakers regarding vaccine-related policies.
AB - Objective: To explore pediatric clinicians’ attitudes, beliefs, and perceived social norms about the impact of delayed vaccine schedules on the clinical management of their patients. Methods: We conducted 30 semi-structured qualitative interviews with academic (Infectious Diseases, Emergency Medicine) and community pediatric clinicians (General Pediatrics) to explore clinicians’ perspectives on how delayed schedules influence their clinical management of patients. The interview guide was based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. We analyzed interview transcripts using both an inductive and deductive thematic approach. Results: The pediatric clinicians in our study overwhelmingly supported the recommended schedule, sought guidance on approaches to navigating conversations with vaccine hesitant families, and desired more evidence to effectively promote on-time vaccination. Clinicians described how delayed schedules have consequences for sick children (e.g., increased antibiotics, laboratory tests, emergency department visits) and healthy children (e.g., increased vaccine visits, out-of-pocket costs, fears among children receiving frequent shots). Clinicians stated that delayed schedules also negatively impact pediatric practices (e.g., increased time counseling patients, staff burden, clogged clinic space, unpredictable vaccine utilization, costs). Conclusions: Pediatric clinicians perceive that delayed vaccine schedules negatively affect patients, pediatric practices, the healthcare system, and society. Future research should quantify the consequences of delayed schedules and identify strategies that promote vaccine adherence. Results from future studies can better support clinician-parent conversations about vaccine hesitancy, guide decision-makers about practice-level approaches to vaccine schedules, and advise payors and policymakers regarding vaccine-related policies.
KW - Alternative vaccine schedules
KW - Healthcare utilization
KW - Immunization
KW - Semi-structured interviews
KW - Vaccination
KW - Vaccine hesitancy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084757699&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.05.015
DO - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.05.015
M3 - Article
C2 - 32418792
AN - SCOPUS:85084757699
SN - 0264-410X
VL - 38
SP - 4740
EP - 4746
JO - Vaccine
JF - Vaccine
IS - 30
ER -