Current tools available for investigating vaccine hesitancy: a scoping review protocol

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Immunization Science
• Health Behavior Research

Background:

• Vaccine hesitancy, a delay or refusal of vaccines, contributes to suboptimal global vaccination coverage.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends integrating vaccine hesitancy measurement into national immunization programs.
• Effective public health strategies require tools to detect population concerns and monitor vaccination behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of available tools for measuring vaccine hesitancy.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of these tools, highlighting their characteristics, commonalities, and distinctions.

Main Methods:

• The review follows the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-Scoping guidelines.
• Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, supplemented by reference list checks.
• Data extraction and screening will be performed independently by two authors, with discrepancies resolved through consensus.

Main Results:

• The review will present a descriptive summary of identified vaccine hesitancy measuring tools.
• Findings will be visualized using tables, charts, and flow diagrams.
• Narrative analysis will synthesize the nature, similarities, and differences of the tools.

Conclusions:

• This review will offer a foundational understanding of the landscape of vaccine hesitancy measurement tools.
• The findings will support public health institutions in selecting and utilizing appropriate tools to address vaccine hesitancy.
• This work aims to inform strategies for enhancing vaccination coverage worldwide.