Understanding and predicting parental decisions about early childhood immunizations.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Understanding and predicting parental decisions about early childhood immunizations.

AU - Wroe, A L

AU - Turner, N

AU - Salkovskis, P M

PY - 2004/1

Y1 - 2004/1

N2 - This research investigated the factors that influence decisions about immunizations. Women in the third trimester of pregnancy (N = 195) rated their likelihood of immunizing their child; stated their reasons for and against immunizing; and rated their perceptions of the benefits and risks of immunization, feelings of responsibility, and anticipated regret if harm occurred. Immunization status was determined at follow-up. Stepwise regression analyses demonstrated that immunization decisions are strongly influenced by omission bias factors such as anticipated responsibility and regret variance (which explained more than 50% of variance). It is suggested that parents may benefit from antenatal decision aids that address omission bias and encourage them to assess benefits and risks of immunizations on the basis of scientific evidence.

AB - This research investigated the factors that influence decisions about immunizations. Women in the third trimester of pregnancy (N = 195) rated their likelihood of immunizing their child; stated their reasons for and against immunizing; and rated their perceptions of the benefits and risks of immunization, feelings of responsibility, and anticipated regret if harm occurred. Immunization status was determined at follow-up. Stepwise regression analyses demonstrated that immunization decisions are strongly influenced by omission bias factors such as anticipated responsibility and regret variance (which explained more than 50% of variance). It is suggested that parents may benefit from antenatal decision aids that address omission bias and encourage them to assess benefits and risks of immunizations on the basis of scientific evidence.

U2 - 10.1037/0278-6133.23.1.33

DO - 10.1037/0278-6133.23.1.33

M3 - Article

VL - 23

SP - 33

EP - 41

JO - Health Psychology

JF - Health Psychology

IS - 1

ER -