Influenza Vaccine Communication During Pediatric Hospitalizations: A Qualitative Study

Health care professional (HCP) communication about influenza vaccination has been shown to positively impact parental vaccine acceptance for hospitalized children. Few studies have explored key components of this communication.

We conducted semistructured interviews of parents and HCPs (eg, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians) caring for children hospitalized at a quaternary care pediatric hospital during the 2018-2019 influenza season. English- and Spanish-speaking parents were eligible if their child was due for influenza vaccine at the time of admission. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and, if applicable, translated into English. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Parents (n = 23) were primarily female (87%), white (61%), and English speaking (91%). HCPs (nurses n = 15; nurse practitioners n = 5; physicians = 10) had worked in their profession for a median of 4.3 years. Major themes included parental and HCP openness to addressing influenza vaccination during hospitalization and the importance of tailoring vaccine communication for each patient and family. Many parents felt a strong recommendation would be motivating but noted that HCPs frequently missed opportunities to recommend vaccination. Many HCPs reported lacking the requisite knowledge, comfort, and skills for discussing vaccines. They felt easy access to vaccine information and scripted responses to common concerns would be helpful. Many thought institutional support of influenza vaccination (ie, via policies, statements) would build staff confidence in discussing vaccines.

These findings highlight an opportunity to engage families in influenza vaccine conversations during hospitalization and offer insights into how communication between patients, families, and HCPs could be optimized in this setting.