Uptake of vaccination against COVID-19 is key to controlling the pandemic. However, a significant proportion of people report that they do not intend to have a vaccine, often because of concerns they have about its side effects or safety. It is important to identify ways to communicate information about the vaccines that facilitate informed decisions rather than promoting uptake through coercion. This study will assess whether theory-based messages can change beliefs and increase intentions to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Scotland. The messages will be based on publicly available information about the need for COVID-19 vaccination and the safety of the vaccines, and structured to address specific types of treatment beliefs. Participants will be randomised to either a group shown the messages or a control group shown general information messages about the COVID-19 virus and vaccination programme. By comparing the two groups we aim to test what impact the theory-based messages have on intentions and beliefs about COVID-19 vaccination.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
1,113
COVID-19 vaccination information structured to address vaccination necessity and concerns.
General messages about the COVID-19 virus and the vaccination programme.
University of Glasgow
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Covid-19 vaccination intention measured by a single item and aggregated as the proportion of intenders.
Participants will be asked: "If you were invited to have a COVID-19 vaccination would you take the vaccine?" Those responding "yes, probably" or "yes, definitely" will be treated as intenders. Those responding "don't know", "probably not" or "definitely not" will be treated as non-intenders.
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention
Mean COVID-19 illness coherence score as assessed by the IPQ-R
Self-reported COVID-19 illness coherence as assessed by the the illness coherence subscale of the revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), with a minimum score of 5, a maximum score of 25 and a higher score representing greater personal understanding of COVID-19.
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention
Mean perceived necessity score as assessed by the BMQ
Self-reported perceived necessity of a COVID-19 vaccine as assessed by the Specific-Necessity subscale of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), with a minimum score of 5, a maximum score of 25 and a higher score representing greater perceived necessity of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention
Mean perceived concerns score as assessed by the BMQ
Self-reported perceived concerns about a COVID-19 vaccine as assessed by the Specific-Concerns subscale of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), with a minimum score of 5, a maximum score of 25 and a higher score representing greater perceived concerns about a COVID-19 vaccine.
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention
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