Sources of information and their impact on parents' vaccination decisions: a systematic review

Background: The frequency and manner of which health information are used is influenced by the sources. These sources may be seen as having different credibility among various sub-groups of the population. Such credibility in turn can have a marked impact on the acceptance and trust of the population on a specific source of information. Objective: The purpose of this review was to identify the various sources of information available on vaccination and how they influence the parents’ decision towards their child’s vaccination. Methods: A systematic review of articles related to the role of information on parents’ vaccination decisions for their children was compiled using a series of keywords in databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, ELCOSH and OSH-ROM). Studies included were those published between 2000-2014, written in English, elicited responses from parents or caregiver of children aged below 18 years old and used a quantitative design that addressed sources of information on vaccination. Results: The search yielded 3678 titles, 51 articles were identified for full review and ten studies met the inclusion criteria. All were quantitative studies, except one which used a mixed method. Six studies were conducted in the United States, two in Europe and two in Asian countries. Studies which reported parents who cited health professionals as reliable sources of information showed a positive effect on vaccination decision, compared to those who reported non-health professionals as the sources of information. Conclusion: Different groups of parents seek and trust information from a variety of sources, which positively or negatively influence parents’ decision in immunizing their children.

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