|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – With measles outbreaks emerging across the globe, parents, educators, healthcare providers, and policymakers are taking a new look at the reasons why people fail to get vaccinated against dangerous diseases. Behavioral scientists and U.S. policy makers will share some findings and insights on this topic in two special events at the 31st Annual APS Convention, to be held May 23-26 in Washington, D.C.
In a May 25 symposium titled “Increasing Vaccination: Putting Psychological Science Into Action,” Noel T. Brewer and Gretchen Chapman, professors at the University of North Carolina and Carnegie Mellon University, respectively, will detail the most potent methods for increasing vaccination rates, highlighting the importance of focusing on behaviors rather than attitudes. The recommendations are detailed in a recent comprehensive review published in the APS journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest. Brewer and Chapman were lead authors on that report.
The best available data show that—contradicting concerns that anti-vaccination attitudes are on the rise—the number of people who actively refuse or delay vaccinations is incredibly small and static, Brewer, Chapman, and colleagues conclude. But while most people view vaccinations favorably, many simply fail to follow through on obtaining them. The researchers find that the most effective vaccination interventions build on these favorable intentions, employing behavioral strategies such providing patients with reminders and prompts; setting default orders and appointments; and developing incentives and requirements.
Other participants in the symposium include Melinda Wharton, Director of the Immunization Services Division at the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and William M. Klein, Associate Director of the National Cancer Institute’s Behavioral Research Program.
In a separate symposium, speakers from the federal government’s Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES) will present findings from several projects in which policy makers used behavioral science in their efforts to increase vaccination rates.
The full convention program is available online at www.psychologicalscience.org/
###
The Association for Psychological Science (APS) is the leading international organization dedicated to advancing scientific psychology across disciplinary and geographic borders. See all of our latest research news at www.psychologicalscience.org/