Determinants of vaccine hesitancy and effectiveness of vaccination counseling interventions among a sample of the general population in Palermo, Italy.
Claudio Costantino, Francesca Caracci, Mariarosa Brandi, Stefania Enza Bono, Antonio Ferro, Claudia Emilia Sannasardo, Francesco Scarpitta, Andrea Siddu, Carlotta Vella, Gianmarco Ventura, Francesco Vitale, Alessandra Casuccio, Vincenzo Restivo
Author Information
Claudio Costantino: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy. ORCID
Francesca Caracci: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy.
Mariarosa Brandi: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy.
Stefania Enza Bono: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy.
Antonio Ferro: Prevention Department, AULSS 6 Euganea , Padova, Italy.
Claudia Emilia Sannasardo: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy.
Francesco Scarpitta: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy. ORCID
Andrea Siddu: Prevention Department, APSS Trento , Trento, Italy. ORCID
Carlotta Vella: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy.
Gianmarco Ventura: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy.
Francesco Vitale: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy. ORCID
Alessandra Casuccio: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy.
Vincenzo Restivo: Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo , Palermo, Italy. ORCID
Counteract vaccine hesitancy is a public health priority. Main objectives of the cross-sectional study conducted were to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding vaccination issues, to estimate the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy and to estimate the effectiveness of vaccination counseling on community advocacy in a sample of general population. An anonymous validated questionnaire was administered in April 2017 at the main shopping center of Palermo and was followed by tailored vaccination counseling interventions. To estimate the effectiveness of the interventions four main connection parameters to the vaccinarsi.org website were evaluated, in the two months before and after the intervention and in the two months before the intervention compared with the same period of previous and following years. Among the 299 subject enrolled 12.7% were hesitant about vaccinations, and 4.7% declared being against vaccinations. General practitioners (GPs) and pediatricians were the most affordable source of information about vaccinations. A higher probability of vaccination hesitancy/refusal was reported among subjects who considered "alternative strategies" the best way for the prevention of infectious diseases (adj-OR = 7.01, IC95% 2.88-17.09, -value < 0.001). A considerable increase of all the vaccinarsi.org website indicators analyzed was observed, from the area in which survey participants lived. Prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among population surveyed is consistent with the literature data. HCWs, such as GPs and pediatricians, should play a key role in modifying personal convictions and choices about vaccinations. A proper vaccination counseling could improve attitudes regarding vaccination issues, such as quality of web-based research.
