Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How to win patients and vaccinate people

Wendy L. Hunter, MD
Conditions
May 22, 2015
Share
Tweet
Share

shutterstock_227904523

We physicians have long labored under the belief that if we provide objective data about the safety and efficacy of vaccines we can change anti-vaxxers’ minds. But political scientist Brendan Nyhan, Ph.D. has shown that directly addressing patients’ concerns about vaccines does little to change their decision to immunize. And he’s probably right. Other research examining the effects of education on strongly held personal beliefs have shown the same trend.

Social science studies that have examined strongly held beliefs generally show that facts do change a person’s view about a specifically addressed concern, but do not change their voting (or vaccinating) behavior. Researchers presume this is because people have other emotions related to their beliefs that remain unaffected.

Pediatrician Douglas Opel, MD, MPH, at Seattle Children’s hospital is investigating the best ways to communicate with parents who are skeptical of vaccines. In a presentation at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting in San Diego in April, he reported that his research team is completing a study in which they videotaped pediatricians discussing vaccination with parents during well-child visits. Preliminary results, he said, suggest vaccination likelihood is not increased by a participatory approach with parents. For example, broaching the topic by asking a question like, “How do you feel about vaccinations?” opens the topic for discussion, but addressing the concerns parents raise doesn’t appear to influence a hesitant parent to vaccinate. Not surprisingly, parents are more satisfied with their visit in this scenario.

When physicians ask, “How do you feel about vaccinations?” We send a subtle message that an uncertainty exists around the topic. However, an alternative prescriptive approach: “Here are your vaccines, hold out your arm,” is equally awkward because we generally prefer to partner with our patients in their health care. Dr. Opel suggests what he calls a “gentle presumptive” approach such as “These are the vaccines we are giving today. How does that sound?”

Research about immunization concerns has thus far not directly explored specific communication approaches, although similar investigations of how to address sensitive topics like abortion and gay marriage have suggested that listening to a subject’s concerns, rather than dictating information can change opinions. For example, in a study of canvassers trying to gain support for the vote for gay marriage, researchers found they could change voters’ opinions by addressing personal and emotional concerns. Their studies also suggest that listening to a subject’s concerns may be more important than lecturing on the facts. Thus, the gentle presumptive approach suggested by Dr. Opel seems to offer the most productive strategy.

Another study showed that the beliefs and attitudes of one’s social network strongly influence vaccine decisions. In many ways, doctors are part of a family’s trusted social network. Our one-on-one interactions with patients are likely an important influence on patient’s decision to vaccinate. So our approach to this subject matters.

Remember, vaccines don’t save lives; vaccination saves lives.

Wendy L. Hunter is a pediatrician and blogs at BabyScience.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Let's celebrate nurses by reining in patient satisfaction

May 22, 2015 Kevin 14
…
Next

When medical journals disagree: What's a practicing physician to do?

May 22, 2015 Kevin 2
…

Tagged as: Pediatrics

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Let's celebrate nurses by reining in patient satisfaction
Next Post >
When medical journals disagree: What's a practicing physician to do?

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Wendy L. Hunter, MD

  • How a teenager with seizures became the face of trauma-informed care

    Wendy L. Hunter, MD
  • Screening for adverse childhood experiences in pediatric primary care made my job easier

    Wendy L. Hunter, MD
  • A physician walks into the homes and lives of disadvantaged families. Here’s what she learned.

    Wendy L. Hunter, MD

More in Conditions

  • Why regular exercise is the best prescription for lifelong health

    George F. Smith, MD
  • When the weight won’t budge: the hidden physiology of grief, stress, and set point

    Sarah White, APRN
  • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

    Maire Daugharty, MD
  • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

    Callia Georgoulis
  • Healing beyond the surface: Why proper chronic wound care matters

    Alvin May, MD
  • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

    Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
    • How early meetings and after-hours events penalize physician-mothers

      Samira Jeimy, MD, PhD and Menaka Pai, MD | Physician
    • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

      GJ van Londen, MD | Meds
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
  • Recent Posts

    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why regular exercise is the best prescription for lifelong health

      George F. Smith, MD | Conditions
    • When the weight won’t budge: the hidden physiology of grief, stress, and set point

      Sarah White, APRN | Conditions
    • Why starting with why can transform your medical practice

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • Why your most heroic act might be in a department meeting [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Life’s detours may be blessings in disguise

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
    • How early meetings and after-hours events penalize physician-mothers

      Samira Jeimy, MD, PhD and Menaka Pai, MD | Physician
    • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

      GJ van Londen, MD | Meds
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
  • Recent Posts

    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why regular exercise is the best prescription for lifelong health

      George F. Smith, MD | Conditions
    • When the weight won’t budge: the hidden physiology of grief, stress, and set point

      Sarah White, APRN | Conditions
    • Why starting with why can transform your medical practice

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • Why your most heroic act might be in a department meeting [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Life’s detours may be blessings in disguise

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

How to win patients and vaccinate people
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...