Parents’ attitudes towards vaccination of their children – a review of measurement tools
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12923/pielxxiw-2026-0012Keywords:
parents’ attitudes, vaccinations, children, measurement tools, scope overviewAbstract
PARENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS VACCINATION OF THEIR CHILDREN – A REVIEW OF MEASUREMENT TOOLS
Introduction. The best method of preventing infectious diseases in children of developmental age is protection through vaccination. However, their eff ectiveness depends on the acceptance and involvement of parents in the process of immunization of children.
Aim. The aim of the work is to review and present standardized measurement tools available worldwide regarding the attitudes adopted by parents towards vaccination of their children.
Material and methods. A narrative review method was used and a non-systematic review of thematic literature according to selected keywords was carried out. The data from the review were recorded by two independent authors in a specially prepared form.
Results. A total of 8 standardized measurement scales were identifi ed from the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Italy and Ghana. The most commonly used scale was the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) survey, adapted and validated in seven other countries.
Conclusions. Standardized research tools allow to obtain objective, reliable data that can be used to develop eff ective educational and communication strategies aimed at increasing the acceptance of vaccinations among parents.
References
1. World Health Organization: WHO Vaccine-preventable Diseases: Monitoring System 2020 Global Summary. World Health Organization; 2017. Available from: https://files.givewell.org/files/DWDA%202009/NewIncentives/WHO_Vaccine_preventable_diseases_monitoring_system_2020_global_summary
2. Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego. Meldunki o zachorowaniach na choroby zakaźne, zakażeniach i zatruciach w Polsce. Available from: https://wwworld.pzh.gov.pl/oldpage/epimeld/index_p.html
3. Wojciszke B. Człowiek wśród ludzi: zarys psychologii społecznej.Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar; 2002, s. 181.
4. Siemionow J. Kształtowanie postaw prospołecznych. [In:] Szwejka Łukasz (eds.): Postawy i styl życia młodzieży, Współczesne Problemy Wychowania. Warszawa: Instytut Badań Edukacyjnych. 2024; 9: 153-158.
5. Santibanez TA, Nguyen KH, Greby SM, et al. Parental vaccine hesitancy and childhood influenza vaccination. Pediatrics. 2020;146(6):e2020007609. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-007609
6. MacDonald NE. SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy: definition, scope and determinants. Vaccine. 2015;33(34):4161-4164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.036
7. Dyda A, King C, Dey A, et al. A systematic review of studies that measure parental vaccine attitudes and beliefs in childhood vaccination. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1253. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09327-8
8. Ferrari R. Writing narrative style literature reviews. Med. Writing. 2015;24(4):230-235. https://doi.org/10.1179/2047480615Z.000000000329
9. Green BN, Johnson CD, Adams A. Writing narrative literature reviews for peer-reviewed journals: secrets of the trade. J. Chiropr. Med. 2006;5(3):101-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60142-6
10. Opel DJ, Mangione-Smith R, Taylor JA, et al. Development of a survey to identify vaccine-hesitant parents: the parent attitudes about childhood vaccines survey. Hum. Vaccin. 2011;7(4):419-425. https://doi.org/10.4161/hv.7.4.14120
11. Larson HJ, Jarrett C, Schulz WS, et al. Measuring vaccine hesitancy: the development of a survey tool. Vaccine. 2015;33(34):4165-4175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.037
12. Shapiro GK, Holding A, Perez S, et al. Validation of the vaccine conspiracy beliefs scale. Papillomavirus Res. 2016;2:167-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pvr.2016.09.001
13. Gilkey MB, Magnus BE, Reiter PL, et al. The Vaccination Confidence Scale: a brief measure of parents’ vaccination beliefs. Vaccine. 2014;32(47):6259-6265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.09.007
14. Shoup JA. Concerns, attitudes, beliefs and intentions of parents about vaccines for their child: development and evaluation of a survey instrument in an integrated health care system in Colorado. University of Colorado at Denver; 2015.
15. Fadda M, Galimberti E, Romano` L, et al. Validation of a scale to measure parental psychological empowerment in the vaccination decision. J. Public Health Res. 2017;22;6(2):955. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2017.955
16. Sarathchandra D, Navin MC, Largent MA, et al. A survey instrument for measuring vaccine acceptance. Prev. Med. 2018;109:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2018.01.006
17. Wallace AS, Wannemuehler K, Bonsu G, et al. Development of a valid and reliable scale to assess parents’ beliefs and attitudes about childhood vaccines and their association with vaccination uptake and delay in Ghana. Vaccine. 2019;4;37(6):848-856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.12.055
18. National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene. How many exemptions are there for mandatory vaccinations? Available online: https:// szczepienia.pzh.gov.pl/faq/jaka-jest-liczba-uchylen-szczepien-obowiazkowych/ (accessed on 10 March 2025).
19. World Health Organization. 2023 Immunization dashboard. Available online: https://immunizationdata.who.int/ (accessed on 10 March 2025).
20. Duplaga M, Zwierczyk U, Kowalska-Duplaga K. The Assessment of the reliability and validity of the polish version of the Adult Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (PL-aVHS) in the context of attitudes toward COVID-19 Vaccination. Vaccines. 2022;10(10),1666. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10101666
21. Tabacchi G, Costantino C, Napoli G, et al. The Esculapio Working Group. Determinants of European parents’ decision on the vaccination of their children against measles, mumps and rubella: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum. Vaccin. Immunother. 2016;12(7):1909-1923. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2016.1151990
22. Szalast K, Nowicki GJ, Pietrzak M, et al. Parental attitudes, motivators and barriers toward children’s vaccination in Poland: A Scoping Review. Vaccines. 2025;13(1):41. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13010041
23. Bean SJ. Emerging and continuing trends in vaccine opposition website content. Vaccine. 2011;29(10):1874-1880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine
24. Bednarek A. Parents’ decisions regarding vaccines and professional education about vaccinations. Pielęg. XXI Wieku.. 2015; 4 (53): 10-14. https://doi.org/10.12923/p21w-2015-4/42
25. Dyda A, King C, Dey A, et al. A systematic review of studies that measure parental vaccine attitudes and beliefs in childhood vaccination. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1253. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09327-8
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Krystyna Zofia Szalast, Barbara Ślusarska (Autor)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
