The following is a summary of “When clinicians and patients disagree on vaccination: what primary care clinicians can learn from COVID-19-vaccine-hesitant patients about communication, trust, and relationships in healthcare,” published in the December 2024 issue of Primary Care by Purcell et al.
COVID-19 vaccination disagreements strain clinician-patient trust. Understanding hesitant patients’ concerns is key to improving communication.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study on the polarized discourse surrounding COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S.
They interviewed 77 vaccine-hesitant patients and 41 clinicians as part of a Veterans Affairs (VA) trial evaluating a vaccine-communication intervention. A qualitative analysis was conducted on the interviews, focusing on the disconnect between clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination communication and decision-making.
The results showed significant differences in how clinicians and patients understood the reasoning, values, and concerns behind vaccine hesitancy. These differences, including negative judgments, could undermine communication, erode trust, and reduce empathy over time.
They advocated empathic listening and communication strategies to bridge the gap between clinicians and vaccine-hesitant patients.
Source: bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-024-02665-1
