Recognizing shared goals between parents and healthcare providers creates a constructive atmosphere for discussing children's vaccinations.
Adopting a confident communication approach significantly increases parental willingness to vaccinate their children and reinforces routine vaccination practices.
Deep dives
Shared Goals in Vaccine Conversations
When communicating with parents about vaccines, recognizing shared goals is essential. Parents generally want what is best for their children, aligning their interests with healthcare providers in promoting child health. This common ground can serve as a foundation for constructive discussions. Establishing this mutual understanding helps to create a positive atmosphere for the conversation about vaccination.
Effective Communication Approaches
The introduction of vaccines can significantly impact parents' willingness to vaccinate their children, influenced by the communication approach used by clinicians. A presumptive approach, which assumes parents will vaccinate their child and states this confidently, leads to higher vaccination rates compared to a participatory approach that invites parents to question vaccination. This method normalizes the vaccination conversation, empowering parents to feel more reassured in their decisions. Evidence suggests that confidently introducing vaccines helps parents overcome hesitation and reinforces the routine nature of vaccinations.
Addressing Parental Concerns
When parents express resistance or concerns about vaccinations, techniques like motivational interviewing can effectively facilitate the conversation. This approach focuses on building rapport rather than engaging in arguments, encouraging parents to articulate their doubts and allowing clinicians to provide tailored information. Simple practices, such as asking for permission to share insights or clarifying misconceptions, enhance receptivity to vaccine information. Addressing specific concerns—such as safety, ingredients, and myths—within a supportive framework fosters an ongoing dialogue that could lead to eventual acceptance of vaccinations.
What is the single most important thing to recognize when communicating with families about vaccines? Author Sean T. O’Leary, MD, MPH, of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children’s Hospital Colorado joins JAMA Senior Editor Anne Cappola, MD, ScM, to discuss evidence-based approaches for discussions with parents about vaccines. Related Content:
