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Understanding non-vaccinating parents' views to inform and improve clinical encounters: a qualitative study in an
Catherine Helps1, Julie Leask2, Lesley Barclay1
1University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.
Objectives:
To explain vaccination refusal in a sample of Australian parents.
Design:
Qualitative design, purposive sampling in a defined population.
Setting:
A geographically bounded community of approximately 30 000 people in regional Australia with high prevalence of vaccination refusal.
Participants:
Semi structured interviews with 32 non-vaccinating parents: 9 fathers, 22 mothers and 1 pregnant woman. Purposive sampling of parents who had decided to discontinue or decline all vaccinations for their children. Recruitment via local advertising then snowballing.
Results:
Thematic analysis focused on explaining decision-making pathways of parents who refuse vaccination. Common patterns in parents' accounts included: perceived deterioration in health in Western societies; a personal experience introducing doubt about vaccine safety; concerns regarding consent; varied encounters with health professionals (dismissive, hindering and helpful); a quest for 'the real truth'; reactance to system inflexibilities and ongoing risk assessment.
Conclusions:
We suggest responses tailored to the perspectives of non-vaccinating parents to assist professionals in understanding and maintaining empathic clinical relationships with this important patient group.