Adolescent confidence in immunisation: Assessing and comparing attitudes of adolescents and adults. Issue 46 (4th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Bing; Giles, Lynne; Afzali, Hossein Haji Ali; Clarke, Michelle; Ratcliffe, Julie; Chen, Gang; Marshall, Helen
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 34:Issue 46(2016)
• Page Start: 5595
• Page End: 5603
• Publication Date: 2016-11-04
• Subjects: Attitudes -- Concerns -- Immunisation -- Adolescents; ANOVA Analysis of Variance -- CI Confidence Interval -- EU European Union -- GP General Practitioner -- HPV Human Papillomavirus -- OR Odds Ratio -- RRR Relative Risk Ratio -- SEIFA Socio Economic Index for Areas -- USA United States America; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.09.040
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Highlights: Adolescents had less vaccine confidence than adults. Males showed less confidence in vaccine benefits but less concern about reactions than females. Adolescents were more likely to seek information from social networks than adults. 1/3 of adolescents surveyed were eager to be involved in joint decision making. Abstract: Introduction: There is limited knowledge of adolescent views and attitudes towards immunisation. Our study investigated adolescent attitudes to immunisation and compared differences in vaccination attitudes between adolescents and adults. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, national online survey. Recruitment was stratified by state and gender to ensure findings were nationally representative. Regression analyses were performed to assess and compare adolescent and adult views on vaccine benefits, community protection, risks, side effects, sources of information, and decision-making preference. Results: In 2013, 502 adolescents and 2003 adults completed the online survey. Lower levels of vaccine confidence were observed in adolescents with adolescents less likely to believe vaccines are beneficial and/or safe compared to adults (p = 0.043). Compared to females, males were less confident of vaccine benefits (p < 0.05) but less concern about vaccine side effects (p < 0.05). Adolescents were more concerned about vaccine side effects than adults for pain (p < 0.001), redness or swelling (p < 0.001), and fever (p = 0.006). Adolescents were less likely than adults to consider health professionals (p < 0.001) and the media (e.g. internet) (p = 0.010) as important sources of information, and were more likely to seek information from social networks (p < 0.001) including families and schools. Although 62.0% of adolescents agreed that parents should make the decision about vaccination for them, adolescents were more likely to prefer a joint decision with parents (p < 0.001) or by themselves (p = 0.007) compared with adults. Conclusion: Adolescents have a lesser understanding of vaccine safety and benefits than adults and have higher concerns about potential vaccine reactions. Improving adolescent awareness and knowledge of the benefits and risks of vaccination through school-based educational programs may improve confidence in and uptake of vaccines for adolescents and increase vaccine confidence in the next generation of parents.