Associations between Healthcare Professional Communication Practices and Influenza Vaccination of Hospitalized Children: Influenza vaccine communication during hospitalization.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nHealthcare professionals (HCPs) (e.g., nurses, doctors) play a key role in vaccine uptake. Few studies describe HCP influenza vaccine communication with parents of hospitalized children.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThis study included English- and Spanish-speaking parents of influenza vaccine-eligible children hospitalized at a tertiary care pediatric hospital between October 2018-May 2019. A survey was completed online or via telephone 2-15 weeks (median 4 weeks) after discharge. It examined parental intent to vaccinate their child during hospitalization and parent-reported inpatient HCP communication practices (e.g., vaccine recommendation strength, format for initiating the recommendation). Multivariable logistic regression examined the associations between HCP communication practices and influenza vaccination during hospitalization, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and visit characteristics.\n\n\nRESULTS\nParents (n=194; 63.0% response rate) were mostly white (66.8%) and English-speaking (97.4%). Their children were primarily 5-17 years (67.0%) with chronic disease (68.6%); 24.7% were vaccinated before discharge. Most parents initially had no plan (55.6%) or planned to decline (31.1%) influenza vaccine for their child during hospitalization. Of these parents, 22.2% decided to accept the vaccine, 66.7% citing a HCP conversation as the main reason for changing their mind. Overall, 75.3% recalled a HCP conversation about influenza vaccination. Of these parents, 61.0% reported a HCP recommendation (53.8% described it as very strong ; 11.1% noted a presumptive initiation format). A parent-reported HCP conversation (AOR 5.23, 95% CI 1.64-16.68) and recommendation (AOR 5.59, 95% CI 2.01-15.51) were associated with influenza vaccination during hospitalization.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThis study highlights the importance of discussing and recommending influenza vaccination with parents of hospitalized children.