1445 - STRENGTHENING HEALTHCARE WORKERS' VACCINATION COMMUNICATION IN GERMANY: DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATING TWO DEMAND-DRIVEN TRAINING INTERVENTIONS

Session: D08S009 - Clinical Health Psychology & Healthcare Systems 2
AUTHORS:
Wulkotte Elisa (Robert Koch Institute, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Immunization Unit/STIKO ~ Berlin ~ Germany) , Schmid-Küpke Nora Katharina (Robert Koch Institute, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Immunization Unit/STIKO ~ Berlin ~ Germany) , Schmid Philipp (Radboud University ~ Nijmegen ~ Netherlands) , Schmitz Jule (University of Erfurt, Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour ~ Erfurt ~ Germany) , Takla Anja (Robert Koch Institute, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Immunization Unit/STIKO ~ Berlin ~ Germany) , Wilhelm Julia (Robert Koch Institute, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Immunization Unit/STIKO ~ Berlin ~ Germany)
Abstract text:
Introduction: Factual knowledge is essential for vaccination counselling. In addition, evidence shows that Motivational Interviewing (MI) -a psychology-based communication style- is more effective than traditional counselling in improving vaccination attitudes, and improves parents' vaccination intention and their children's vaccination coverage.


Purpose: This study evaluates two needs-oriented and psychology-informed trainings on (1) HPV knowledge and (2) MI conversation techniques to support healthcare workers (HCWs) in addressing HPV vaccine hesitancy among parents.


Method: We quasi-randomly assigned 36 pediatric practices in Germany to either traditional HPV information training (n=15), MI-training (n=11), or no training (n=10). Both trainings were informed by two representative German-wide surveys. Trainings were conducted in spring/summer 2024. Pediatricians and medical assistants were trained separately. We evaluated both trainings using questionnaires completed before, immediately after, and three months post-training. Primary outcome measures were HCWs' knowledge on HPV and MI, self-efficacy in vaccination conversations and perceived difficulties in addressing statements against HPV vaccination. Group differences were tested using ANOVA models (alpha=.05), and follow-up planned contrasts.


Results: Data were collected from n=301 participants across the 36 practices. Trainees showed a greater increase (before vs. after training) in knowledge regarding HPV (HPV-trainees) and MI (MI-trainees) than participants of the control group (p<.001). Increase in self-efficacy three months after the training was significantly higher in both trainee-groups compared to the control group (p<.001). Training effects on addressing anti-vaccination attitude roots varied by statement, training, and time: HPV-trainees reported less difficulty immediately post-training, MI-trainees after three months, while neither training group differed from the control group (p>.05).


Conclusion: First results suggest that both trainings can strengthen HCWs' vaccination communication in Germany, and that combining factual knowledge training with an MI communication style may be even more effective. A potential increase in practice-level vaccination rates will be further evaluated, contributing to an overall-assessment of the intervention.