A qualitative analysis of the vaccine intention-behaviour relationship: parents' descriptions of their intentions, decision-making behaviour and planning processes towards HPV vaccination.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to identify factors influencing the vaccine intention-behaviour relationship.

DESIGN

A total of 445 parents who received a brief intervention to promote HPV vaccination were categorized based on their intentions post-intervention (yes/unsure/eventually/never) and subsequent adolescents' vaccine status (yes/no). Fifty-one of these parents participated in qualitative interviews.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Parents described their intentions, decision-making and planning processes towards vaccination. Framework analysis was used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

Parents in the 'Yes/Yes' category were knowledgeable about HPV/vaccine, described strong, stable intentions, considered themselves the primary decision-makers about vaccination and said they vaccinated immediately. 'Yes/No' parents described strong intentions and thought their adolescent was vaccinated OR described hesitant intentions, seeking advice/agreement from others and noting barriers to vaccination without solutions. 'Unsure/Yes' parents described their intentions as strengthening with information from credible sources and identified strategies for overcoming barriers. 'Unsure/No' and 'Eventually/No' parents had misinformation/negative beliefs regarding vaccination, described being ambivalent or non-supportive of vaccination and cited barriers to vaccination. 'Never/No' parents held negative beliefs about vaccination, described strong, stable intentions to NOT vaccinate, deferring the decision to others, and reported no planning towards vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

Intention characteristics and planning processes could moderate the vaccine intention-behaviour relationship, potentially serving as targets for future vaccine strategies.