Parents' responses to vaccine information pamphlets.

OBJECTIVE

To assess parents' knowledge and opinions about immunizations and immunization practices before and after introduction of vaccine information pamphlets.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Telephone questionnaire administered to parents whose children received immunizations in the preceding week.

SETTING

Six private pediatric practices in Nashville area and resident continuity clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

PARTICIPANTS

Parents whose children were scheduled to receive immunizations were asked to participate. Interviews were completed with 177 parents whose children received immunizations before and 156 parents after pamphlets were introduced. These two groups of parents had similar demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

Parents who received vaccine information pamphlets learned more about vaccines (2.38 facts/parent after vs 1.18/parent before vaccine information pamphlets, z = -6.28, P < .0001) and were more eager to obtain immunizations for their children (76% vs 38%, chi 2 = 47.24, P < .001). Receipt of pamphlets did not make parents significantly more likely to report side effects from vaccines (63% after vs 55% before, NS) but tended to make them less likely to turn to non health care providers for information (58% after vs 69% before, chi 2 = 3.73, P = .06). Parents who received pamphlets, however, said more often that they received too much information (20% vs 4%, chi 2 = 14.9, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Vaccine information pamphlets enhanced parents' knowledge and acceptance of immunizations. There is room for further improvement.