Reducing Vaccine Hesitancy for COVID-19

Overseen By Sunny W Kim, Ph.D

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Arizona State University

Disqualifiers: Non-Hispanic, No consent, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

80 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

COVID-19 vaccines are available to children over six months, and these vaccines are powerful tools against this catastrophic pandemic. However, Hispanic/Latino children have lower COVID-19 vaccination rates than White non-Hispanic children .Our team of health communication and public health experts proposes a community-based theory-driven intervention that utilizes culturally-grounded narratives from digital storytelling to reduce Hispanic parents' COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and increase their children's vaccine uptake.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Digital Storytelling Intervention for reducing vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19?

Research shows that digital storytelling can change people's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in public health, including vaccination. Digital messages from health professionals have also been shown to promote preventive behaviors and vaccination, suggesting that storytelling could be an effective way to reduce vaccine hesitancy. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Digital Storytelling Intervention safe for humans?

The research articles provided do not contain specific safety data for the Digital Storytelling Intervention or its other names. However, storytelling has been used in health care settings among vulnerable populations without reported safety concerns. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does this treatment for reducing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy differ from others?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on addressing vaccine hesitancy through educational and narrative-based interventions, rather than using financial incentives or focusing solely on intentions. It aims to improve understanding and acceptance of vaccines by tackling misinformation and enhancing communication strategies. ^{3 11 12 13 14}

Research Team

Alexis Koskan, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

Arizona State University

Sunny W Kim, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

Arizona State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Hispanic parents or guardians of children under 18 who haven't had their COVID-19 vaccinations up to date. Participants must self-identify as Hispanic, be willing to communicate via text, and provide a photo of their child's immunization record.

Inclusion Criteria

You identify as Hispanic.

I am a parent or legal guardian of a child under 18.

You consent to sending and receiving a text message, as well as submitting a photograph of your child's vaccination history for T3 data gathering.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a baseline assessment using the web-based data collection platform before random assignment to control or intervention arm

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Intervention

Participants in the intervention group watch digital stories about COVID-19 vaccine experiences among Hispanic parents

4 weeks

1 visit (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in vaccine hesitancy and vaccination behaviors

2 months

1 visit (virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Digital Storytelling Intervention
• Information Control Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests if digital storytelling can reduce vaccine hesitancy among Hispanic parents. It involves comparing the effects of receiving culturally-tailored stories about vaccines with just getting basic information.

Participant Groups

Group I: Baseline and Digital Storytelling (DST) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Once participants complete the consent, they will be asked to complete a baseline assessment using the web-based data collection platform, Research Electronic Data Capture before the random assignment to DST arm. The intervention group participants will watch the four selected digital stories about COVID-19 vaccine experiences among Hispanic parents of children. Each story was made with voice, images, and sound (3-5 minutes each). Intervention group participants will complete the Time 2 (T2) online survey immediately after the DST intervention. Two months later, the investigators will contact all participants and ask them to complete another follow-up (T3) assessment of participants' vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 vaccination behaviors (since T1 and T2).

Group II: Baseline and Control Active Control 2 Interventions

Once participants complete the consent, they will be asked to complete a baseline assessment using the web-based data collection platform, Research Electronic Data Capture before the random assignment to control arm. Control group participants will receive a CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet appropriate for their child's age before completing the T2 assessment. Two months later, the investigators will contact all participants and ask them to complete another follow-up (T3) assessment of participants' vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 vaccination behaviors (since T1 and T2).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Arizona State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

311

Recruited

109,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Findings from Research

A systematic review of seven randomized controlled trials found that digital messages from health professionals, particularly physician videos on platforms like Facebook, can significantly reduce COVID-19 infections.

The review also indicated that these digital interventions effectively promote preventive behaviors, such as vaccination and information-seeking, although many studies had concerns regarding bias.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of digital messages from health professionals on COVID-19-related outcomes: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Kuwahara, K., Sakamoto, M., Ishizuka, R., et al.[2023]

Storytelling (ST) has been identified as an effective tool for changing public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding health issues, with 7 out of 10 analyzed studies using ST for this purpose.

Despite the positive impact of ST in public health interventions, the studies reviewed showed limited follow-up and evaluation, indicating a need for more comprehensive assessments to fully understand its effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Storytelling as a Research Tool Used to Explore Insights and as an Intervention in Public Health: A Systematic Narrative Review. McCall, B., Shallcross, L., Wilson, M., et al.[2022]

A study involving 31 participants from the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine trial revealed that motivations for vaccination included a desire to end the pandemic, protect others, and support scientific progress, highlighting the importance of these themes in promoting vaccine uptake.

Participants expressed concerns about side effects and the rapid development of the vaccine, but they addressed these concerns by normalizing side effects and emphasizing the safety of the expedited process, suggesting that effective communication can alleviate vaccine hesitancy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The social experience of participation in a COVID-19 vaccine trial: Subjects' motivations, others' concerns, and insights for vaccine promotion. Wentzell, E., Racila, AM.[2022]

Digital storytelling (DST) interventions, developed with input from Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors, aim to improve cancer screening rates by creating relatable narratives that resonate with cultural values.

Storytellers felt their contributions were significant and engaging, suggesting that these personal stories could effectively motivate viewers to pursue necessary cancer screenings, although further research is needed to confirm this impact.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a Digital Storytelling Intervention to Increase Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Hispanic/Latino Community: a Qualitative Evaluation. Lohr, AM., Capetillo, GP., Molina, L., et al.[2023]

Traditional methods of communicating medical information, especially regarding COVID-19, are becoming less effective, highlighting the need for alternative communication methods like podcasts and social media.

Using storytelling techniques in medical communication can enhance the physician-patient relationship, leading to increased patient satisfaction and compliance with treatment, while also helping physicians better understand their patients' concerns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing Physician's Toolkit: Integrating Storytelling in Medical Practice. Ghosh, AK., Joshi, S.[2021]

This study is a large-scale randomized controlled trial involving 24,000 participants from the USA and China, designed to evaluate the effectiveness of three different animated video approaches in improving vaccine confidence and reducing hesitancy regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

The trial aims to assess how storytelling techniques—using humor, analogy, and emotional focus—can influence people's intent to seek vaccination, providing valuable insights for future public health communication strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Animated, video entertainment-education to improve vaccine confidence globally during the COVID-19 pandemic: an online randomized controlled experiment with 24,000 participants. Chen, S., Forster, S., Yang, J., et al.[2022]

A narrative literature review was conducted to summarize adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting the growing body of knowledge on their safety and efficacy.

The review emphasizes the importance of understanding probable AEFI to enhance public awareness and confidence in COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse Events following Immunization with COVID-19 Vaccines: A Narrative Review. Bhandari, B., Rayamajhi, G., Lamichhane, P., et al.[2022]

Storytelling is being recognized as an effective method for collecting research data and creating interventions in nursing, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Three case studies involving American Indian teen mothers, cancer survivors, and African American women at risk for HIV/AIDS illustrate how storytelling can be utilized to gather data and inform interventions, highlighting its cultural significance in healthcare.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Storytelling: A Qualitative Tool to Promote Health Among Vulnerable Populations. Palacios, JF., Salem, B., Hodge, FS., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 153 employees, 42% participated in testing an app designed for reporting adverse events following immunization (AEFI), with 63% of users rating the experience positively, indicating good acceptance of the app-based technology.

Concerns about data protection were the main reason for declining participation, suggesting that improving data security measures could enhance the acceptability and effectiveness of app-based AEFI reporting systems.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

User preferences for a mobile application to report adverse events following vaccination. Nguyen, MTH., Ott, JJ., Caputo, M., et al.[2020]

Effective communication strategies are crucial for improving participation in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, especially in the context of widespread misinformation about vaccines.

The proposed ASK (Assume, Seek, Know) approach encourages transparency about options, collaboration with stakeholders, and understanding of trial data to enhance decision-making and potentially reduce vaccine hesitancy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health Communication and Decision Making about Vaccine Clinical Trials during a Pandemic. Langford, AT.[2022]

The study is evaluating a web-based intervention aimed at reducing COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and hesitancy, using a validated tool (the Adult Vaccine Hesitancy Scale) to measure changes in participants' attitudes before and after the intervention.

With 486 participants currently enrolled in this pilot study, the research will analyze engagement data and learning design effectiveness to improve the intervention before broader dissemination, highlighting the importance of sound educational strategies in public health campaigns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Web-Based Public Health Intervention for Addressing Vaccine Misinformation: Protocol for Analyzing Learner Engagement and Impacts on the Hesitancy to Vaccinate. Powell, L., Nour, R., Zidoun, Y., et al.[2022]

This scoping review aims to analyze studies that use narrative interventions to encourage vaccination, addressing the global issue of vaccine hesitancy, particularly for diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, HPV, and COVID-19.

The review will systematically search multiple databases and extract data on the effectiveness of narrative strategies in promoting vaccination, with findings intended to guide future communication strategies and research in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intervention studies to encourage vaccination using narrative: a systematic scoping review protocol. Okuhara, T., Okada, H., Goto, E., et al.[2022]

An educational intervention at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base successfully reduced COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among 500 participants, with 36% of initially hesitant individuals becoming receptive to vaccination after the seminar.

Trust in healthcare providers significantly influenced the change in vaccine intent, highlighting that building trust can be crucial in addressing vaccine hesitancy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of an Education Intervention on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Military Base Population. Li, PC., Theis, SR., Kelly, D., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of six studies involving over 200,000 participants found that most non-financial interventions effectively increased COVID-19 vaccination rates, although one study was a randomized controlled trial.

Despite the positive results, the evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions is still limited, highlighting the need for more rigorous research to develop clear guidelines for addressing vaccine hesitancy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interventions for COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis. Terrell, R., Alami, A., Krewski, D.[2023]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of digital messages from health professionals on COVID-19-related outcomes: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. [2023]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Storytelling as a Research Tool Used to Explore Insights and as an Intervention in Public Health: A Systematic Narrative Review. [2022]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The social experience of participation in a COVID-19 vaccine trial: Subjects' motivations, others' concerns, and insights for vaccine promotion. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a Digital Storytelling Intervention to Increase Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Hispanic/Latino Community: a Qualitative Evaluation. [2023]

5. India pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing Physician's Toolkit: Integrating Storytelling in Medical Practice. [2021]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Animated, video entertainment-education to improve vaccine confidence globally during the COVID-19 pandemic: an online randomized controlled experiment with 24,000 participants. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse Events following Immunization with COVID-19 Vaccines: A Narrative Review. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Storytelling: A Qualitative Tool to Promote Health Among Vulnerable Populations. [2022]

9. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

User preferences for a mobile application to report adverse events following vaccination. [2020]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health Communication and Decision Making about Vaccine Clinical Trials during a Pandemic. [2022]

11. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Web-Based Public Health Intervention for Addressing Vaccine Misinformation: Protocol for Analyzing Learner Engagement and Impacts on the Hesitancy to Vaccinate. [2022]

12. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intervention studies to encourage vaccination using narrative: a systematic scoping review protocol. [2022]

13. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of an Education Intervention on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Military Base Population. [2022]

14. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interventions for COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis. [2023]