Impact of a website based educational program for increasing vaccination coverage among adolescents

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Medicine
• Health Education

Background:

• Limited data exists on using technology to enhance adolescent vaccination knowledge.
• Adolescent vaccination coverage remains a public health concern requiring innovative educational strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of web-based educational programs in increasing adolescent vaccination coverage.
• To assess the impact of supplementary face-to-face lessons on vaccination knowledge and uptake.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 917 unvaccinated adolescents (mean age 14.0 years).
• Participants were assigned to: no intervention, website educational program only, or website plus face-to-face lesson.
• Vaccination coverage and knowledge were assessed for various vaccines, including tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis, and meningococcal vaccines.

Main Results:

• The combination of website and face-to-face lessons significantly increased knowledge and reduced vaccine fear (p < 0.001).
• Significant increases in vaccination coverage were observed for tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis, and meningococcal ACYW vaccines in groups using the website.
• The group receiving both website and lesson showed superior results, including increased coverage for meningococcal B vaccine (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Web-based educational programs, especially when supplemented with face-to-face discussions, can effectively increase adolescent vaccination coverage.
• Involving parents and teachers in educational initiatives is crucial for addressing misinformation and promoting vaccination.
• This study highlights the potential of digital health education for improving adolescent immunization rates.