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. 2024 Jul 29:10:e56546.
doi: 10.2196/56546.

Preferences for COVID-19 Vaccines: Systematic Literature Review of Discrete Choice Experiments

Yiting Huang #  1   2 , Shuaixin Feng #  3 , Yuyan Zhao #  1 , Haode Wang  4 , Hongbo Jiang  1   5
Affiliations

Preferences for COVID-19 Vaccines: Systematic Literature Review of Discrete Choice Experiments

Yiting Huang et al. JMIR Public Health Surveill. .

Abstract

Background: Vaccination can be viewed as comprising the most important defensive barriers to protect susceptible groups from infection. However, vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19 is widespread worldwide.

Objective: We aimed to systematically review studies eliciting the COVID-19 vaccine preference using discrete choice experiments.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL Plus platforms in April 2023. Search terms included discrete choice experiments, COVID-19, and vaccines and related synonyms. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the study characteristics. Subgroup analyses were performed by factors such as high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries and study period (before, during, and after the pandemic wave). Quality appraisal was performed using the 5-item Purpose, Respondents, Explanation, Findings, and Significance checklist.

Results: The search yield a total of 623 records, and 47 studies with 53 data points were finally included. Attributes were grouped into 4 categories: outcome, process, cost, and others. The vaccine effectiveness (21/53, 40%) and safety (7/53, 13%) were the most frequently reported and important attributes. Subgroup analyses showed that vaccine effectiveness was the most important attribute, although the preference varied by subgroups. Compared to high-income countries (3/29, 10%), a higher proportion of low- and middle-income countries (4/24, 17%) prioritized safety. As the pandemic progressed, the duration of protection (2/24, 8%) during the pandemic wave and COVID-19 mortality risk (5/25, 20%) after the pandemic wave emerged as 2 of the most important attributes.

Conclusions: Our review revealed the critical role of vaccine effectiveness and safety in COVID-19 vaccine preference. However, it should be noticed that preference heterogeneity was observed across subpopulations and may change over time.

Trial registration: PROSPERO CRD42023422720; https://tinyurl.com/2etf7ny7.

Keywords: COVID-19; discrete choice experiment; preference; systematic review; vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flowchart of study selection process for COVID-19 vaccine preference studies using discrete choice experiments (DCEs).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Geographical distribution of 47 included studies on COVID-19 vaccine preferences using discrete choice experiments across 29 countries.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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