Rapid Development and Testing of a COVID-19 Vaccine Curriculum for Pediatricians

Pavan P. Zaveri, Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010; Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, 1918 F St NW, Washington, DC 20052. Electronic address: pzaveri@childrennsnational.org.
Shannon Clark, Icon Clinical Research, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland.
Kristin Kan, Division of Advanced General Pediatrics, Northwestern University and Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611.
Brian R. Lee, Division of Health Services and Outcomes Research, Children's Mercy, 5808 W 110th St, Overland Park, KS 66211.
Vishal Naik, Division of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern University and Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611.
Douglas J. Opel, Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195.
Erica Popovsky, Division of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern University and Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611.
Dennis Ren, Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010; Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, 1918 F St NW, Washington, DC 20052.
Joelle Simpson, Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010; Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, 1918 F St NW, Washington, DC 20052.
Jennifer Watts, Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Mercy Kansas City, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108.
Marjorie Lee White, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35233.
Angela L. Myers, Icon Clinical Research, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18, Ireland; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-16-2022

Journal

Academic pediatrics

DOI

10.1016/j.acap.2022.09.010

Keywords

COVID-19 vaccine; online educational curriculum; parental communication; vaccine promotion

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic evolves and vaccines become available to children, pediatricians must navigate vaccination discussions in the setting of rapidly changing vaccine recommendations and approvals. We developed and evaluated an educational curriculum for pediatricians to improve their knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines and confidence in communicating with patients and families about COVID-19 vaccines. METHODS: Five institutions collaborated to develop an online educational curriculum. Utilizing the collaboration's multidisciplinary expertise, we developed a three-module curriculum focused on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and vaccine basics, logistics and administration of COVID-19 vaccine, and COVID-19 vaccine communication principles. Surveys administered to clinician participants before and after completion of the curriculum assessed knowledge and confidence; a follow-up survey 1 month after the post-survey assessed persistence of initial findings. RESULTS: A total of 152 pediatric providers participated; 72 completed both pre- and post-surveys. The median knowledge score improved from the pre-survey to the post-survey (79% to 93%, P < 0.001). There was an increase in providers' confidence after completing the curriculum, which persisted in the follow-up survey. In the post-survey, 98% of participants had had the opportunity to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine with patients, and most clinicians reported that the modules decreased apprehension some or significantly. CONCLUSIONS: This project demonstrates rapid and feasible deployment of a curriculum providing up-to-date information to front-line clinicians responsible for having complex conversations about COVID-19 vaccine decision-making. Clinicians who completed this curriculum had sustained increased confidence and decreased levels of apprehension when discussing the COVID-19 vaccine.

Department

Pediatrics

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