Background Effective communication from trusted healthcare professionals (HCPs) can increase patients’ acceptance of vaccination. However, many HCPs find these conversations challenging and lack communication confidence when patients express vaccine concerns. The Empathetic Refutational Interview (ERI) is a framework for improving vaccine conversations and addressing vaccine misconceptions. Our objective was to pilot ERI training as continuing medical education to improve HCPs’ vaccine communication confidence.

Method We piloted a short-form (60-90 mins) ERI training module for HCPs in two different UK clinical training settings. In Study 1, the ERI module was run within four immunisation training days and compared to a control communication module of the same length. In Study 2, the ERI module was run as ten stand-alone sessions with no control group. We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of training impact on participants’ confidence and preparedness for vaccine conversations. We collected self-report measures and qualitative feedback from participants immediately before and after training, and subsequently one and three months post training. We also conducted structured observations of ERI training.

Results We recruited participants from the HCPs (predominantly nurses) who attended the training (Study 1: n = 61; Study 2: n = 98). Participants showed significant improvements in self-reported communication confidence and preparedness for vaccine conversations after all training modules. Control group participants described improved knowledge of information sources as supporting their confidence, while ERI group participants described improved communication skills and techniques. Participants reported that the ERI provided a helpful framework to structure and practise conversations. Participants and observers felt that more practice time would enhance training.

Conclusions Short training modules can improve HCPs’ confidence in vaccine communication. Having an evidence-based communication structure can help HCPs gain awareness of skills for effective communication about vaccination, not just knowledge around signposting patients to information.

EA and GG are executive directors of JITSUVAX Training, a not-for-profit company delivering training based on the JITSUVAX project. SL is a non-executive director. The research was conducted entirely before the incorporation of this company. All other authors declare no competing interests.

https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/7A3RQ

This project has received funding from the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme grant 964728 (JITSUVAX). LCK is supported by funding from the Turku Institute for Advanced Studies. HF acknowledges support from the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol. The Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol is part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and a partnership between University of Bristol and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in collaboration with the MRC Biostatistics Unit at University of Cambridge and University of the West of England.

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University of Bristol School of Psychological Science Ethics committee gave ethical approval for this work. (reference: 12008) The UK Health Research Authority approved the work. (reference: 318853)

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Author notes

For the purpose of open access, the author(s) has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to this preprint.

The work was received ethical approvals prior to data collection from the University of Bristol School of Psychological Science Ethics committee (reference: 12008) and the UK Health Research Authority (reference: 318853). Study protocols were registered and documented on the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/7A3RQ). Materials, data, and the code to derive the reported analyses are shared on the OSF (https://osf.io/h8sv2/?view_only=5cddcd0379e445beba0333dbdc4b16c0).

This project has received funding from the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme grant 964728 (JITSUVAX).

LCK is supported by funding from the Turku Institute for Advanced Studies.

HF acknowledges support from the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural

Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol. The Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol is part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and a partnership between University of Bristol and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in collaboration with the MRC Biostatistics Unit at University of Cambridge and University of the West of England.

Competing interests

EA and GG are executive directors of JITSUVAX Training, a not-for-profit company delivering training based on the JITSUVAX project. SL is a non-executive director.

The research was conducted entirely before the incorporation of this company.

All other authors declare no competing interests.