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. 2023 Aug 22;13(8):e072473.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072473.

Resources available for parent-provider vaccine communication in pregnancy in Canada: a scoping review

Affiliations

Resources available for parent-provider vaccine communication in pregnancy in Canada: a scoping review

Monica Santosh Surti et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objective: Vaccination in pregnancy (VIP) is a protective measure for pregnant individuals and their babies. Healthcare provider's (HCP) recommendations are important in promoting VIP. However, a lack of strong recommendations and accessible resources to facilitate communication impact uptake. This study sought to determine the extent of and characterise the resources available for parent-provider vaccine communication in pregnancy in Canada using a behavioural theory-informed approach.

Design: Scoping review.

Methods: In accordance with the JBI methodology, nine disciplinary and interdisciplinary databases were searched, and a systematic grey literature search was conducted in March and January 2022, respectively. Eligible studies included resources available to HCPs practising in Canada when discussing VIP, and resources tailored to pregnant individuals. Two reviewers piloted a representative sample of published and grey literature using inclusion-exclusion criteria and the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance guidelines (for grey literature only). Sixty-five published articles and 1079 grey reports were screened for eligibility, of which 19 articles and 166 reports were included, respectively.

Results: From the 19 published literature articles and 166 grey literature reports, 95% were driven by the 'Knowledge' domain of the Theoretical Domains Framework, while n=34 (18%) addressed the 'Skills' domain. Other gaps included a lack of VIP-specific tools to address hesitancy and a lack of information on culturally safe counselling practices.

Conclusion: The study suggests a need for resources in Canada to improve VIP communication skills and improve access to vaccination information for HCPs and pregnant individuals. The absence of such resources may hinder VIP uptake.

Keywords: medical education & training; patient-centered care; primary health care; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: EC spoke at educational events, without receiving any compensation, that were sponsored by Moderna in October 2022 and by Pfizer in December 2022 and is a non-voting member at the National Advisory Committee for Immunization. EC also received honorarium for speaking at educational events from Sanofi in June 2021 and September 2021 and Pfizer in June 2022.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Theoretical Domains Framework definitions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 flow diagram for new systematic reviews.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Visual representation of Theoretical Domains Framework classification.

References

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