Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Health Expect. 2024 Oct;27(5):e70051. doi: 10.1111/hex.70051.
Youth have been uniquely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite high rates of COVID-19 infection, youth had one of the lowest vaccine uptake rates. Certain characteristics can affect vaccine uptake, such as mental health and substance use, but it is important to understand uptake for an effective response to pandemics.
This study examined the perspectives of youth with mental health or substance use concerns on COVID-19 vaccine confidence, hesitancy and overall COVID-19 vaccine perspectives.
Using photovoice, a community-based participatory research method, a sample of 27 youth aged 14-24 years participated in a series of photography workshops and focus groups. Participants submitted final photographs for discussion. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed.
Four themes were generated: (1) Youth deciphered the vaccine discourse in a changing information landscape; (2) mixed perspectives of families, friends and loved ones influenced the vaccine journey; (3) complex societal influences affected views and decisions around the COVID-19 vaccine; and (4) youth navigated their vaccine journeys through first- and second-hand experiences. The four themes and subthemes highlight the evolution of youth's journeys with the COVID-19 vaccine over the course of the pandemic and into the late-pandemic period.
Youth with mental health or substance use challenges navigated a complex environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The wide variety of factors influencing vaccine perspectives should be taken into account in public health messaging and future research on youth vaccine uptake. Youth-led and youth-engaged research can help solicit rich and meaningful perspectives of young people on important public health issues.
This was a youth-led study. A youth research analyst conducted the study activities together with the support of a youth advisory group, an adult photographer with lived experience, and a scientific team.
青少年受到 COVID-19 疫情的独特影响。尽管 COVID-19 感染率很高，但青少年的疫苗接种率却最低。某些特征会影响疫苗接种，例如心理健康和药物使用，但了解接种情况对于有效应对大流行至关重要。
本研究调查了有心理健康或药物使用问题的青少年对 COVID-19 疫苗信心、犹豫以及对 COVID-19 疫苗总体看法的看法。
使用摄影作品，一种基于社区的参与式研究方法，27 名年龄在 14-24 岁的青少年参加了一系列摄影工作坊和焦点小组。参与者提交最终照片进行讨论。对焦点小组进行了录音、转录和主题分析。
产生了四个主题：（1）年轻人在不断变化的信息环境中解读疫苗信息；（2）家庭、朋友和亲人的混合观点影响了疫苗接种之旅；（3）复杂的社会影响影响了对 COVID-19 疫苗的看法和决策；（4）年轻人通过第一手和第二手经验来驾驭他们的疫苗接种之旅。这四个主题和子主题突出了青少年在 COVID-19 大流行期间和大流行后期疫苗接种之旅的演变。
有心理健康或药物使用问题的青少年在 COVID-19 大流行期间经历了复杂的环境。在公共卫生信息传递和未来关于青少年疫苗接种率的研究中，应考虑到影响疫苗观点的各种因素。青年主导和青年参与的研究可以帮助收集年轻人对重要公共卫生问题的丰富而有意义的观点。
这是一项由青年主导的研究。一名青年研究分析师与青年咨询小组、一位有亲身经历的成年摄影师和一个科学团队一起开展了这项研究活动。
