Practice nurses’ perceptions of their immunization role and strategies used to promote measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine uptake in 2014 – 2018: A qualitative study

Aim The aim of this study was to explore which aspects of their role practice nurses perceive to be most influential and the strategies they employ to promote the MMR vaccine. Design Qualitative study employing in depth interviews. Method Fifteen London based practice nurses, nine in 2014 and six in 2018, took part in semi‐structured interviews that were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was used to systematically manage, analyse, and identify themes. Results Analysis of data identified aspects of their role practice nurses perceived to be most influential (the themes) including: promoting vaccination, assisting parents’ to make informed decisions, and provided insight into how they used specific strategies to achieve these in practice. These themes were consistent over both phases of the study. Conclusion The findings provide an understanding of: (i) the practice nurses perceptions of the most important aspects of their role when promoting the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; and (ii) the strategies they implemented in practice to achieve these. The latter included assisting parents in their immunization decisions and was facilitated by practice nurses engaging with parents to provide relevant evidence to address parent queries, dispel misconceptions and tailor strategies to promote the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. Impact This study addresses the paucity of literature available that specifically explores practice nurses’ perceptions of their role concerning the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The findings reveal how practice nurses promote the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine by identifying strategies to enable parents to make informed decisions. At a time of an increasing incidence of measles, practice nurses have an important public health role in achieving herd immunity levels for measles, mumps, and rubella. 摘要 目的 本研究旨在探讨见习护士在哪方面被认为最具影响力,以及见习护士在推广MMR疫苗时所使用的策略。 设计 深度访谈法定性研究。 方法 15名常驻伦敦的见习护士(其中9名于2014年进行的访谈,6名于2018年进行的访谈),参与了半结构化的访谈,对访谈内容录音和逐字转录。将定性分析的内容用于系统地管理、分析和确定主题。 结果 对数据的分析确定了见习护士最具影响力的作用(主题),包括:推广疫苗接种、协助父母做出明智决定以及提供他们自己如何运用具体的策略,在实践中实现这些的看法。这些主题在研究的两个阶段均一致。 结论 调查结果提供了以下认识:(i)见习护士认为在推广麻疹、腮腺炎和风疹疫苗时,是对他们而言其最重要的作用;以及(ii)他们在实践中为实现这些目标而实施的策略。后者包括协助父母做出免疫接种决定,并由见习护士协助父母提供相关证据,以解决父母的疑问,消除误解并调整策略,促进麻疹疫苗接种 影响 本研究解决了文献缺乏的问题,特别是探索见习护士的看法,关于他们在有关麻疹、腮腺炎和风疹疫苗中所起到作用的文件。调查结果揭示了见习护士如何通过确定策略,使父母能够做出明智的决定,以促进麻疹、腮腺炎和风疹疫苗接种。在麻疹发病率不断上升的时期,在达到麻疹、腮腺炎和风疹的群体免疫水平方面,见习护士发挥着重要的公共卫生作用