A Rapid Systematic Review of Public Responses to Health Messages Encouraging Vaccination against Infectious Diseases in a Pandemic or Epidemic
Sadie Lawes-Wickwar,
Daniela Ghio,
Mei Yee Tang,
Chris Keyworth,
Sabina Stanescu,
Juliette Westbrook,
Elizabeth Jenkinson,
Angelos P. Kassianos,
Daniel Scanlan,
Natalie Garnett,
Lynn Laidlaw,
Neil Howlett,
Natalie Carr,
Natalia Stanulewicz,
Ella Guest,
Daniella Watson,
Lisa Sutherland,
Lucie Byrne-Davis,
Angel Chater,
Jo Hart,
Christopher J. Armitage,
Gillian W. Shorter,
Vivien Swanson,
Tracy Epton
Affiliations
Sadie Lawes-Wickwar
Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK
Daniela Ghio
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Society, University of Salford, Manchester M6 6PU, UK
Mei Yee Tang
Behavioural Science Policy Research Unit, Population Health Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
Chris Keyworth
Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Sabina Stanescu
School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Juliette Westbrook
Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
Elizabeth Jenkinson
Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of West England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Angelos P. Kassianos
Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Daniel Scanlan
Department of Communication, Policy, and Research, Education Support, London N5 1EW, UK
Natalie Garnett
Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of West England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Lynn Laidlaw
Public Contributor, Health Psychology Exchange Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Group, UK
Neil Howlett
Department of Psychology, Sports, and Geography, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UK
Natalie Carr
Faculty of Health, Psychology, and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UK
Natalia Stanulewicz
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, School of Applied Social Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
Ella Guest
Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of West England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Daniella Watson
Global Health Research Institute, Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
Lisa Sutherland
Behavioural Insight, Edinburgh EH9 3EY, UK
Lucie Byrne-Davis
Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Angel Chater
Centre for Health, Wellbeing and Behaviour Change, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK41 9EA, UK
Jo Hart
Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Christopher J. Armitage
Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Gillian W. Shorter
Centre for Improving Health Related Quality of Life, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
Vivien Swanson
Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Tracy Epton
Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Public health teams need to understand how the public responds to vaccination messages in a pandemic or epidemic to inform successful campaigns encouraging the uptake of new vaccines as they become available. A rapid systematic review was performed by searching PsycINFO, MEDLINE, healthevidence.org, OSF Preprints and PsyArXiv Preprints in May 2020 for studies including at least one health message promoting vaccine uptake of airborne-, droplet- and fomite-spread viruses. Included studies were assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) or the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR), and for patient and public involvement (PPI) in the research. Thirty-five articles were included. Most reported messages for seasonal influenza (n = 11; 31%) or H1N1 (n = 11; 31%). Evidence from moderate to high quality studies for improving vaccine uptake included providing information about virus risks and vaccination safety, as well as addressing vaccine misunderstandings, offering vaccination reminders, including vaccination clinic details, and delivering mixed media campaigns across hospitals or communities. Behavioural influences (beliefs and intentions) were improved when: shorter, risk-reducing or relative risk framing messages were used; the benefits of vaccination to society were emphasised; and beliefs about capability and concerns among target populations (e.g., vaccine safety) were addressed. Clear, credible, messages in a language target groups can understand were associated with higher acceptability. Two studies (6%) described PPI in the research process. Future campaigns should consider the beliefs and information needs of target populations in their design, including ensuring that vaccine eligibility and availability is clear, and messages are accessible. More high quality research is needed to demonstrate the effects of messaging interventions on actual vaccine uptake.
