Vaccine Curriculum to Engage Vaccine-Hesitant Families: Didactics and Communication Techniques With Simulated Patient Encounter

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Addressing vaccine hesitancy and the antivaccination movement has become part of pediatric practice, particularly in the context of the reemergence of previously eradicated vaccine-preventable illnesses. Oftentimes, trainees do not feel comfortable speaking to patients and families who are hesitant to vaccinate or wish to follow alternative schedules. This curriculum was developed in order to address this identified gap in pediatric trainee education. Methods The curriculum begins with a simulated patient encounter with a vaccine-hesitant parent. The trainees undergo a series of lectures on vaccine-preventable illnesses, vaccine safety and administration, personal experience with a family affected by vaccine-preventable illnesses, and communication techniques with role-play opportunities. Finally, trainees undergo the simulated patient encounter again. In reviewing our intervention, we compared pre- and postcurriculum assessments to see how residents perceived their experience and comfort. Simulated patient encounters were graded on a Likert scale by experienced faculty. Results We administered our curriculum to 26 pediatric interns. Our results showed that residents improved in self-competence and confidence in addressing vaccine concerns with vaccine-hesitant families. Following the curriculum, residents were all willing to engage vaccine-hesitant families when the opportunity arose. Furthermore, based on graded simulated patient encounters, our residents improved in multiple aspects of their knowledge, comfort, and counseling techniques. Discussion Our study demonstrated that providing this educational curriculum positively influenced trainees' engagement in conversation with vaccine-hesitant families.

Keywords

• Communication
• Vaccination
• Resident
• Pediatric
• Trainee
• Vaccine Hesitancy