Provider Resources for Vaccine Conversations with Parents: Development and Distribution of Educational Materials for Parents of Young Children

Background: The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) conducts ongoing research to inform the development of vaccine educational materials. In 2009, the website “Provider resources for vaccine conversations with parents” was launched after extensive formative research with parents.

Objectives: Describe the results of two of the research projects that informed the development of “Provider resources for vaccine conversations with parents” and discuss how to access these resources.

Methods: In 2009, NCIRD continued its ongoing research to better understand the current vaccine knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of parents, including 1) focus group research with 102 mothers in two cities, and 2) a national mail survey of 475 parents of children aged six years and under. The results of these studies were used along with past research to inform the development of new educational resources. These resources were designed to help healthcare providers discuss vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases with parents.

Results: Mothers in the focus groups generally expressed support for vaccination and most described vaccinating their children according to the recommended schedule. However, some discussed short-term delay or “splitting up” of vaccines into more than one office visit, usually due to concerns over pain or safety. Similarly, the mail survey of parents found that while 79% of parents were confident or very confident in vaccine safety, concerns such as a child’s pain from vaccines (44%) and number of vaccines children receive at one office visit (34%) were common. Both projects also reaffirmed past research findings indicating parents’ trust in the vaccine information they receive from their child’s healthcare provider.

Conclusions: Research with parents has helped NCIRD better understand questions, concerns, and attitudes regarding childhood vaccines. Using lessons learned from this and past research with parents and healthcare providers, “Provider resources for vaccine conversations with parents” was developed to help healthcare providers discuss vaccines with parents.