Clinical trial NCT04876885: The Future of Viral Communications: Video-Based Health Promotion Strategies for COVID-19 Vaccinations
Official title: The Future of Viral Communications: Video-Based Health Promotion Strategies for COVID-19 Vaccinations
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Health Promotion
Health Education
COVID-19 Vaccines
Lead sponsor: McMaster University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-05-07
Enrollment: 100
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 16
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: This study looks at two groups. First, it directly measures response of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the general public to education videos on COVID-19 vaccine development, validation, and dissemination. Second, it surveys two stakeholder groups - healthcare professionals and public health professionals to better understand their evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine education needs in the general public, based on their interpretation of commonly asked questions, best practices in health promotion, and evaluation of information already available.
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: The investigators aim to study whether education, in the form of three two-minute educational videos about COVID-19 vaccine development and dissemination, reduces vaccine hesitancy and increases intent to vaccinate. The investigators intend to use insights from this research study to develop a framework for video-based 'education prescriptions' that reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase intent to vaccinate across a number of infectious diseases. This may have wide-ranging impact: inform practice for health promotions and public health, as well as support infectious disease related work done by healthcare professionals (e.g. those working in travel medicine, where vaccination rates are also low).

Detailed description: The World Health Organization listed vaccine hesitancy as one of the leading threats to global health in 2019. Vaccine hesitancy is defined as the "reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines". Given the novelty of the COVID-19 pandemic, hesitancy towards use of COVID-19 vaccine may be linked to the process of vaccine development and clinical trial validation of safety and/or efficacy, rather than hesitations regarding vaccines in general. This has already inspired several education campaigns. It is unclear whether education leads to reduced hesitance and whether reduced hesitance leads to increased intent to vaccinate. Further, early surveys demonstrating high COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and intent to vaccinate may not reflect actual uptake, as shown by comparisons to flu vaccination uptake at a time when flu vaccines are both available, validated and largely freely accessible. Inspiring vaccine confidence is a multifaceted challenge, and the COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on one of its aspects, specifically the public health approach to health information dissemination. The lack of evidence-based knowledge and preparedness coupled with pandemic fatigue impacts the uptake of recommended health behaviours and puts human lives at risk. Different people adopt different responses to health promotion materials based on a variety of socioeconomic factors. For example, in an American study on vaccination in children, it was found that children who had never received a vaccine tended to come from affluent, college educated families, while those who had only received some recommended vaccinations came from minority families that were single parent, low-income and less likely to have completed higher education. Almost 50% of the parents of the unvaccinated children cited concerns about vaccine safety. The strength of beliefs leading to hesitancy may change the ability to affect intent to vaccinate. These beliefs may be contributed to by cultural dimensions in Canada and cultures of recently immigrated individuals, with regards to individualism, collectivism, perceptions of social benefits, etc. These factors might also impact the choice to vaccinate. The existence of many outlets for highly varied information underscores the need for unbiased and credible education on COVID-19 vaccinations. The investigators aim to study whether education, in the form of three two-minute educational videos about COVID-19 vaccine development and dissemination, reduces vaccine hesitancy and increases intent to vaccinate. The investigators intend to use insights from this research study to develop a framework for video-based 'education prescriptions' that reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase intent to vaccinate across a number of infectious diseases. This may have wide-ranging impact: inform practice for health promotions and public health, as well as support infectious disease related work done by healthcare professionals (e.g. those working in travel medicine, where vaccination rates are also low).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

For the general public arm:

* An understanding of the English language at a grade 8 written level
* Reside in Ontario

For the healthcare professionals and public health professionals arm:

* Licensed to practice as a healthcare professional in Ontario
* An understanding of the English language at a grade 8 written level
* Reside in Ontario

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any individuals under age 16

Primary outcomes:
measure: Number of participants indicating intent to vaccinate against COVID-19
timeFrame: One month
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in score regarding vaccine hesitation after exposure to educational materials
timeFrame: One month
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
affiliation: McMaster University
name: Sarrah M Lal, MBA
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Malik AA, McFadden SM, Elharake J, Omer SB. Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in the US. EClinicalMedicine. 2020 Sep;26:100495. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100495. Epub 2020 Aug 12.
citation: Harrison EA, Wu JW. Vaccine confidence in the time of COVID-19. Eur J Epidemiol. 2020 Apr;35(4):325-330. doi: 10.1007/s10654-020-00634-3. Epub 2020 Apr 22.
citation: Dodd RH, Cvejic E, Bonner C, Pickles K, McCaffery KJ; Sydney Health Literacy Lab COVID-19 group. Willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 in Australia. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021 Mar;21(3):318-319. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30559-4. Epub 2020 Jun 30. No abstract available.
citation: Edwards B, Biddle N, Gray M, Sollis K. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance: Correlates in a nationally representative longitudinal survey of the Australian population. PLoS One. 2021 Mar 24;16(3):e0248892. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248892. eCollection 2021.
citation: Sherman SM, Smith LE, Sim J, Amlot R, Cutts M, Dasch H, Rubin GJ, Sevdalis N. COVID-19 vaccination intention in the UK: results from the COVID-19 vaccination acceptability study (CoVAccS), a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Jun 3;17(6):1612-1621. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1846397. Epub 2020 Nov 26.