Canadian Paediatric Society
Project Title: Decreasing Vaccine Hesitancy: Enhancing the knowledge and skills of health care professionals (HCPs) through education activities
Funding Recipient: Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS)
Project Contact: Ms. Jackie Millette - Director, Education, Committees & Sections (jackiem@cps.ca )
Project Period: November 10th, 2017 – March 31st, 2020
About the Project
Being on the front line and being asked hard questions, Health Care Professionals (HCPs) need the latest evidence-informed guidance and tools to help them work with parents who have concerns about vaccines. HCPs need accurate, up-to-date information about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases, both to promote informed decision-making and to assure clients that they are making the best choice. Given the increased access to flawed or biased information around immunization, the increasing concern regarding the re-emergence of vaccine preventable diseases and the important role that HCPs play, it is essential that they have the knowledge and skill to address parents'/patients' concerns, to increase immunization coverage rates in Canada.
The project will focus on two separate education activities that will prepare HCPs to effectively respond to vaccine hesitant clients and promote immunization - an online module and a live workshop:
Online module: This online course will include a 1-hour progressive case study that will: define vaccine hesitancy, review who are vaccine "rejecters", identify factors that may lead to vaccine hesitancy, outline how to address concerns, and provide key talking points that will provide HCPs with a better understanding and increased skills to more effectively counsel clients in overcoming vaccine hesitancy. This in turn will lead to patients receiving better care and higher immunization rates.
Live workshop: A one-day workshop will be developed that will define vaccine hesitancy, review immunization competencies that address the most common questions and provide opportunities for hands-on, case-based learning in small groups. Participants will be asked to complete the online module prior to attending the course to ensure learners come with some basic knowledge. The course will be geared to pediatricians, family physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners and this interdisciplinary mix will help foster an atmosphere of inter-professional education and cooperation in the area of immunization.
Objectives
- Improve the understanding of vaccine hesitancy by HCPs
- Raise awareness of HCPs around the common causes of vaccine hesitancy
- Improve the ability of HCPs to counsel patients effectively to allow them to make informed immunization choices for themselves and their families.
Outcomes
- Short Term: HCPs participate in the online module and/or the workshop.
- Medium Term: HCPs enhance their knowledge and skills.
- Long Term: HCPs apply newly acquired knowledge, skills, etc. to positively influence vaccine acceptance and uptake of patients.
The challenge that the project addresses
Interest in, and resources on vaccine hesitancy have continued to grow. However, despite the influence of the Internet and media, Canadian parents still turn to health care providers for information and advice about vaccination. Physicians and nurses are seen as the most-trusted sources of information by parents, and play a significant role in influencing confidence in vaccines. To decrease vaccine hesitancy, health care providers should be well informed and address parents’ questions clearly. Findings from a survey of vaccine experts and front-line vaccine providers show that both groups have the perception that vaccine rates have been declining and consider vaccine hesitancy an important issue to address in Canada. Given the increased access to flawed or biased information around immunization, the increasing concern regarding the re-emergence of vaccine preventable diseases and the important role that HCPs play, it is essential that they have the knowledge and skill to address parents'/patients' concerns, to increase immunization coverage rates in Canada.
About the Canadian Paediatric Society
Founded in 1922, the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) is a national professional organization that promotes the health of children and youth and represents nearly 3,000 paediatricians and allied health care providers in Canada. We work to advance the health of children and youth by nurturing excellence in health care, advocacy, education, research and support of our membership. As the only national paediatric society in Canada, our members and partners develop the best practice standards for health care and child care in Canada. As one of the most effective public health measures, immunization has always been a top priority of the Society.