The Impact of a Single Educational Lecture on the Vaccine Confidence among Pregnant Women and Young Mothers

Abstract

Background: We investigated the impact of a single unstructured educational lecture about vaccinations on the vaccine confidence in volunteer participants. Methods: We conducted a survey-based study during a series of open meetings related to pregnancy and parenting. Before and after the pediatrician’s lecture related to vaccinations, listeners completed the visual analogue scales (VAS, 0–15 cm), evaluating (1) self-declared knowledge on vaccinations and (2) how they perceive the safety and efficacy of this preventive method. Results: In total, 484 women aged 30 ± 4 years participated in the lecture (pregnant = 68%; ≥1 children = 56%). Participants declared to have more comprehensive knowledge on preventive vaccinations and perceived vaccines to be safer and more useful (the role for the immunity) after vs. before the lecture (median VAS: 10.4 vs. 7.2, 10.8 vs. 8.7, and 11.0 vs. 10.4 cm, all p < 0.001). Importantly, the prevalence of vaccine-related adverse events was also assessed as being higher after the lecture (median VAS: 9.9 vs. 8.0 cm, p < 0.001). The increase in self-declared knowledge on vaccinations and perceived need for vaccinations (delta VAS—VAS after minus before the lecture, expressed as % of baseline) was lower among participants who rated the lecture less vs. more useful. Importantly, both participants who liked vs. did not like the lecture comparably rated vaccines safer after vs. before the lecture (delta VAS (median, interquartile range): 16% (0–39%) vs. 18% (2–42%), p = 0.39). Conclusions: An educational lecture on vaccinations positively impacts vaccine confidence in young adult women. Irrespective of the subjective rating of the lecture, all listeners perceived vaccinations to be safer after vs. before the speech.

The effect of COVID-19 vaccine tele-educational program on vaccine hesitancy and receiving the vaccine among women planning for pregnancy, pregnant or breast-feeding mothers

“…In addition, health education on COVID-19 vaccination provided by health workers to pregnant women's improved their knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy and the mother's willingness to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination [51]. Moreover, a single education lecture decreased pregnant women's hesitancy [52]. These results were in line with results that emerged in the current study.…”

Attitudes and perceptions of mothers towards childhood vaccination in Greece: lessons to improve the childhood COVID-19 vaccination acceptance

“…The prevalent neutral attitudes toward specific vaccination questions may change to positive attitudes after interventions. Prior studies have noted the importance of educational interventions in parental knowledge and attitudes toward the vaccination of their children ( 70 , 71 ). We believe that population-specific educational interventions in the Greek cohort are necessary to maintain a positive attitude toward vaccination and prevent a high level of vaccination hesitancy and negative attitudes toward vaccination in the future.…”

A favorable impression of vaccination leads to a better vaccination rate for the human papillomavirus vaccine: A Japanese questionnaire survey investigation

“…Parents’ knowledge is good when the vaccine coverage is optimal and vice versa [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] . With the increase in the parents’ perception or knowledge improved, the vaccination behavior became preferable [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] . The discrepancy in decision-making and attitude seen in our study in Japan may be because parents vaguely felt that routine preventive care is the right choice and/or their obligation, rather than because they genuinely understand the specific adverse sequelae that they are preventing by adhering to the standard vaccine schedule.…”