Vaccine hesitancy is defined as 'delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines, despite the availability of vaccine service' and was named one of the top ten global health threats by the World Health Organization in 2019. Our proposed study will aim to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a Web-based psychoeducation programme to address Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, 'AI-driven Vaccine Communicator' (including educational materials, animations of vaccine research and development, and an MI communication skills-based AI, digital assistant). Our goal is to standardise our intervention so that it can serve as an effective toolkit for clinicians/healthcare providers to increase Hong Kong residents' motivation to vaccinate and to ensure that the programme can be adapted to viral mutations and newly developed vaccines in the medium/long term.
This study is a two-arm, single-blind pilot randomized controlled trial, and it will be adopted to evaluate the efficacy of the 'AI-driven Vaccine Communicator' relative to being self-informed about Covid-19 vaccines. Also, to address the widespread hesitancy among Hong Kong residents toward Covid-19 vaccines, we will develop a Web-based psychoeducation programme, 'AI-driven Vaccine Communicator,' driven by artificial intelligence (AI) techniques based on the Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants Matrix Model and MI communication skills and concepts (theoretical underpinnings). After developing and piloting this programme, we will test its effectiveness among members of the population who are hesitant about Covid-19 vaccines. The programme will then be refined further and standardised to use the most relevant information and effective communication skills to promote acceptance of Covid-19 vaccines among a wider Hong Kong population. Clinicians and healthcare providers will be able to utilise our programme as a toolkit in their usual practice when working with clients who are hesitant about Covid-19 vaccines.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
168
The intervention will include five modules web-based psychoeducation programme (two module sessions weekly, each module lasts for 15-20 minutes) and interact with an MI communication skills-based AI, digital assistant.
Participants in the control group will be given HK government websites in COVID-19 vaccine and invite to join the online examination in relation to Covid-19 vaccine knowledge (using multiple choices questions similar to the intervention group), and this is to ensure that participants from the control group also use time to search relevant information of covid-19 vaccines, also this is to control the time effects.
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic Unviersity
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Vaccine hesitancy at pre-test
Vaccine hesitancy measured by Adult Vaccine Hesitancy scale and a single question 'plan for next dose'
Time frame: Vaccine hesitancy will be assessed at pre-intervention.
Vaccine hesitancy at post-intervention
Vaccine hesitancy measured by Adult Vaccine Hesitancy scale and a single question 'plan for next dose'
Time frame: Vaccine hesitancy will be assessed five weeks post the commencement of the intervention (at post-intervention).
Vaccine hesitancy at three months follow-up
Vaccine hesitancy measured by Adult Vaccine Hesitancy scale and a single question 'plan for next dose'
Time frame: Vaccine hesitancy will be assessed after three months follow-up.
Vaccine hesitancy at six months follow-up
Vaccine hesitancy measured by Adult Vaccine Hesitancy scale and a single question 'plan for next dose'
Time frame: Vaccine hesitancy will be assessed after six months follow-up.
Vaccine confidence at pre-test
Vaccine confidence assessed by Vaccine Confidence Index scale
Time frame: Vaccine confidence will be assessed at pre-intervention.
Vaccine confidence at post-intervention
Vaccine confidence assessed by Vaccine Confidence Index scale
Time frame: Vaccine confidence will be assessed five weeks post the commencement of the intervention (at post-intervention).
Vaccine confidence at three months follow-up
Vaccine confidence assessed by Vaccine Confidence Index scale
Time frame: Vaccine confidence will be assessed after three months follow-up.
Vaccine confidence at six months follow-up
Vaccine confidence assessed by Vaccine Confidence Index scale
Time frame: Vaccine confidence will be assessed after six months follow-up.
Vaccine readiness at pre-test
Participants' perception of their degree of attitudinal change using three one-item measures of readiness for vaccine perception: How important is it for you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?; How ready are you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?; How confident are you about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine?
Time frame: Vaccine readiness will be assessed at pre-intervention.
Vaccine readiness at post-intervention
Participants' perception of their degree of attitudinal change using three one-item measures of readiness for vaccine perception: How important is it for you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?; How ready are you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?; How confident are you about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine?
Time frame: Vaccine readiness will be assessed five weeks post the commencement of the intervention (at post-intervention).
Vaccine readiness at three months follow up
Participants' perception of their degree of attitudinal change using three one-item measures of readiness for vaccine perception: How important is it for you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?; How ready are you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?; How confident are you about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine?
Time frame: Vaccine readiness will be assessed after three months follow-up.
Vaccine readiness at six months follow up
Participants' perception of their degree of attitudinal change using three one-item measures of readiness for vaccine perception: How important is it for you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?; How ready are you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine?; How confident are you about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine?
Time frame: Vaccine readiness will be assessed after six months follow-up.
Vaccine-Related Health Literacy at pre-test
Vaccine-Related Health Literacy assessed by Chinese version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire
Time frame: Vaccine-Related Health Literacy will be assessed at pre-intervention.
Vaccine-Related Health Literacy at post-intervention
Vaccine-Related Health Literacy assessed by Chinese version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire
Time frame: Vaccine-Related Health Literacy will be assessed five weeks post the commencement of the intervention (at post-intervention).
Vaccine-Related Health Literacy at three months follow up
Vaccine-Related Health Literacy assessed by Chinese version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire
Time frame: Vaccine-Related Health Literacy will be assessed after three months follow-up.
Vaccine-Related Health Literacy at six months follow up
Vaccine-Related Health Literacy assessed by Chinese version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire
Time frame: Vaccine-Related Health Literacy will be assessed after six months follow-up.
Trust in government at pre-test
Trust in government will be measured with the four-item Vaccine Confidence Index.
Time frame: Trust in government will be assessed at pre-intervention.
Trust in government at post-test
Trust in government will be measured with the four-item Vaccine Confidence Index.
Time frame: Trust in government will be assessed five weeks post the commencement of the intervention (at post-intervention).
Trust in government at three-months follow up
Trust in government will be measured with the four-item Vaccine Confidence Index.
Time frame: Trust in government will be assessed after three-months follow up.
Trust in government at six-months follow up
Trust in government will be measured with the four-item Vaccine Confidence Index.
Time frame: Trust in government will be assessed after six-months follow up.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.