Communicating with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination: A Qualitative Study on Vaccinators in Tuscany Region, Italy
The rapid development of the vaccine and the infodemia have challenged communication about COVID-19 vaccines. This study aims to characterize—through the experience of vaccinators—the challenges faced during COVID-19 vaccination consultations and the communication strategies adopted. A qualitative s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/2/223 |
| _version_ | 1827755303602487296 |
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| author | Giorgia Alderotti Martina Felicia Corvo Primo Buscemi Lorenzo Stacchini Duccio Giorgetti Chiara Lorini Guglielmo Bonaccorsi Maria José Caldés Pinilla Vieri Lastrucci |
| author_facet | Giorgia Alderotti Martina Felicia Corvo Primo Buscemi Lorenzo Stacchini Duccio Giorgetti Chiara Lorini Guglielmo Bonaccorsi Maria José Caldés Pinilla Vieri Lastrucci |
| author_sort | Giorgia Alderotti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rapid development of the vaccine and the infodemia have challenged communication about COVID-19 vaccines. This study aims to characterize—through the experience of vaccinators—the challenges faced during COVID-19 vaccination consultations and the communication strategies adopted. A qualitative study was conducted on COVID-19 vaccinators in Tuscany, Italy. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and examined by thematic analysis. In total, 30 vaccinators were interviewed. Four main themes emerged. The first highlighted distinct profiles of users’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. Barriers and promoters of vaccine uptake emerged in the second theme: concerns over the vaccine, excessive exposure to information, and a lack of clear guidance from institutions were the main factors behind hesitancy. The third theme highlighted users’ information-seeking behaviors; vaccinators observed that users ideologically opposed to the vaccine (IOV) unconsciously seek information that confirms their theories. The last theme comprised communication strategies for dealing with hesitancy. Empathy, first-hand examples, transparency, and tailored communication style appear to be effective in building vaccine trust. Lastly, the impossibility of developing a decision-making partnership with IOVs was noticed. These findings may help to better characterize public attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and highlight key communication principles and strategies to foster vaccine confidence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:03:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe7d7feaf24b4c569fd9b8905d71f597 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:03:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe7d7feaf24b4c569fd9b8905d71f5972023-11-16T23:41:27ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2023-01-0111222310.3390/vaccines11020223Communicating with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination: A Qualitative Study on Vaccinators in Tuscany Region, ItalyGiorgia Alderotti0Martina Felicia Corvo1Primo Buscemi2Lorenzo Stacchini3Duccio Giorgetti4Chiara Lorini5Guglielmo Bonaccorsi6Maria José Caldés Pinilla7Vieri Lastrucci8Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, ItalyGlobal Health Center, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, ItalyMedical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, ItalyMedical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, ItalyMedical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 48, 50134 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, ItalyGlobal Health Center, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, ItalyEpidemiology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, ItalyThe rapid development of the vaccine and the infodemia have challenged communication about COVID-19 vaccines. This study aims to characterize—through the experience of vaccinators—the challenges faced during COVID-19 vaccination consultations and the communication strategies adopted. A qualitative study was conducted on COVID-19 vaccinators in Tuscany, Italy. Face-to-face interviews were conducted and examined by thematic analysis. In total, 30 vaccinators were interviewed. Four main themes emerged. The first highlighted distinct profiles of users’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. Barriers and promoters of vaccine uptake emerged in the second theme: concerns over the vaccine, excessive exposure to information, and a lack of clear guidance from institutions were the main factors behind hesitancy. The third theme highlighted users’ information-seeking behaviors; vaccinators observed that users ideologically opposed to the vaccine (IOV) unconsciously seek information that confirms their theories. The last theme comprised communication strategies for dealing with hesitancy. Empathy, first-hand examples, transparency, and tailored communication style appear to be effective in building vaccine trust. Lastly, the impossibility of developing a decision-making partnership with IOVs was noticed. These findings may help to better characterize public attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and highlight key communication principles and strategies to foster vaccine confidence.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/2/223COVID-19vaccinevaccination campaignhealth communicationcommunication principlescommunication strategies |
| spellingShingle | Giorgia Alderotti Martina Felicia Corvo Primo Buscemi Lorenzo Stacchini Duccio Giorgetti Chiara Lorini Guglielmo Bonaccorsi Maria José Caldés Pinilla Vieri Lastrucci Communicating with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination: A Qualitative Study on Vaccinators in Tuscany Region, Italy Vaccines COVID-19 vaccine vaccination campaign health communication communication principles communication strategies |
| title | Communicating with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination: A Qualitative Study on Vaccinators in Tuscany Region, Italy |
| title_full | Communicating with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination: A Qualitative Study on Vaccinators in Tuscany Region, Italy |
| title_fullStr | Communicating with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination: A Qualitative Study on Vaccinators in Tuscany Region, Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Communicating with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination: A Qualitative Study on Vaccinators in Tuscany Region, Italy |
| title_short | Communicating with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination: A Qualitative Study on Vaccinators in Tuscany Region, Italy |
| title_sort | communicating with patients about covid 19 vaccination a qualitative study on vaccinators in tuscany region italy |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccine vaccination campaign health communication communication principles communication strategies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/2/223 |
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