Date of Conferral
5-14-2024
Date of Award
May 2024
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Nursing
Advisor
Mary Martin
Abstract
This study involved determining why mothers hesitate to vaccinate their children and where they get their information about vaccinations. This descriptive qualitative study guided by the health belief model explored the influence social media has on mothers’ perceived barriers to vaccinating their children. A descriptive qualitative approach was used, and one-on-one audio interviews were conducted via Zoom or in person with 19 participants. Participants were mothers 19 or older, had children between zero and 18, made medical decisions for their children who resided in their household, and sought information about vaccinations via healthcare providers, social media platforms, friends, or family. Participants were recruited using Facebook, the Walden University participant pool website, and a women’s support meeting at a local hospital. Interviews were conducted until saturation was reached, and then the interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step process for analysis. Results revealed six themes: source of information, trust in healthcare providers, vaccine safety, side effects, adequate information, and recommended CDC vaccination schedule. The study results can lead to social change by educating the public about the benefits of using selected social media sites based on evidence-based research findings when making vaccine decisions. Further studies are needed to determine which websites have factual information supported by research. Improving healthcare providers' knowledge about determining whether the information available to mothers is evidence-based may result in a larger immunized population from common childhood illnesses.
Recommended Citation
Patterson, Wendy Michele, "Influence of Social Media on Mothers’ Decision-Making Regarding Vaccinations" (2024). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15784.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15784
