Pilot Study of Evaluating Attitudes toward Childhood Immunization among Healthcare Workers in Japan

Abstract

Providing appropriate immunization information during the perinatal period is important for improving immunization rates among infants and children; however, the distribution of immunization information by healthcare workers (HCWs) is not standardized in Japan. We investigated HCWs’ attitudes toward childhood immunization and factors related to vaccine hesitancy. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive survey of HCWs involved in childhood immunization in Niigata City, Japan, from November 2017 to January 2018. We assessed contextual, individual and group, and vaccine/vaccination-specific influences. Of 290 HCWs, 139 (47.9%) returned completed questionnaires. Most HCWs (87/139, 64.9%) reported providing immunization information verbally to parents; 51/87 (58.6%) spent fewer than five minutes doing so. Pediatricians provided vaccines based on the parents’ best interest, whereas public health nurses and midwives emphasized government policy. Nurses had greater hesitancy related to personal perceptions and social/peer factors than pediatricians (p < 0.001). Nurses were significantly more likely than pediatricians to suggest that children receive more shots than necessary (p < 0.01). Nurses tended to have more negative attitudes toward vaccination and little awareness of immunization promotion compared to pediatricians. Thus, all HCWs involved in childhood immunization should receive sufficient information to provide timely and appropriate immunization to infants and children.

Nurses' Opinions about Childhood Anti-Vaccination, Roles and Responsibilities in Preventing Anti-Vaccination Attitudes in Society

“…A cross-sectional study of healthcare workers involved in childhood immunization in Niigata City, Japan reported that nurses tend to have a more negative attitude towards vaccination and less awareness of promoting immunization compared to pediatricians. 29 It was thought that organizing in-service pieces of training for nurses on the subject and including vaccination as a separate course in nursing curricula and that of other health professionals would be a useful practice to eliminate nurses' prejudices on the subject and to ensure social confidence in vaccines. 19 In the present study, nurses listed their roles in preventing anti-vaccination attitudes as providing education to parents, counseling, being a role model, increasing knowledge about vaccines, following up-to-date information with courses/congresses/symposiums, conducting evidence-based studies and following current studies/ scientific publications on this subject.…”