Original Article
Childhood vaccination communication outcomes unpacked and organized in a taxonomy to facilitate core outcome establishment

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.02.007Get rights and content
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Abstract

Objectives

We present a comprehensive taxonomy of outcomes for childhood vaccination communication interventions. Adding to our earlier map of trial outcomes, we aimed to (1) identify relevant outcomes not measured in trials, (2) identify outcomes from stakeholder focus groups, and (3) organize outcomes into a taxonomy.

Study Design and Setting

We identified additional outcomes from nonvaccination health communication literature and through parent and health care professional focus groups. We organized outcomes into the taxonomy through iterative discussion and informed by organizational principles established by leaders in core outcome research.

Results

The taxonomy includes three overarching core areas, divided into eight domains and then into outcomes. Core area one is psychosocial impact, including the domains “knowledge or understanding,” “attitudes or beliefs,” and “decision-making.” Core area two is health impact, covering “vaccination status and behaviors” and “health status and well-being.” Core area three is community, social, or health system impact, containing “intervention design and implementation,” “community participation,” and “resource use.”

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this taxonomy is the first attempt to conceptualize the range of potential outcomes for vaccination communication. It can be used by researchers selecting outcomes for complex communication interventions. We will also present the taxonomy to stakeholders to establish core outcome domains.

Keywords

Outcomes
Core outcome set
Childhood vaccination
Communication
Taxonomy
Immunization

Cited by (0)

Ethics approval: The focus group study referred to in this paper was granted ethics approval by the La Trobe University Human Ethics Committee (study number S15/148). Aspects of the recruitment process for the focus group study were approved by the Victorian Department of Education and Training (approval 2015_002831).

Consent for publication: Not applicable.

Funding: The work of all authors except R.R. is supported by the Global Health and Vaccination Research (GLOBVAC) program of the Research Council of Norway (COMMVAC 2 project grant number 220873). S.L. also receives funding from the South African Medical Research Council. R.R. is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (Cochrane Review Group support 2013–2017).