Pre-travel vaccine information needs, attitudes, drivers of uptake and the role for decision aids in travel medicine

Abstract

Abstract Background Many travellers do not receive vaccines pre-travel. Tools such as vaccine decision aids could support informed vaccine decision-making. We aimed to characterise Australians’ pre-travel vaccine attitudes, behaviours and information needs and examine the role for decision aids in travel medicine. Methods Online cross-sectional survey of Australian adults in December 2022. We included questions on demographics, pre-travel health-seeking behaviour, and information needs. We measured vaccine confidence (Vaccine Confidence Index Index) and used hypothetical disease scenarios to evaluate behavioural and social drivers of vaccination. We used multivariable logistic regression models to identify predictors of vaccine uptake and thematically analysed free-text responses. Results We received complete survey responses from 1223/1326 Australians (92% response rate). Amongst those reporting previous overseas travel, 67% (778/1161) reported past pre-travel health encounter(s) and 64% (743/1161) reported past pre-travel vaccination. Half (50%) strongly agreed that vaccines were important for their health; fewer strongly agreed that vaccines were safe (37%) and effective (38%). In multivariable analyses, past pre-travel vaccine uptake was associated with increasing age (OR = 1.17 [95% CI 1.08–1.27] p < 0.001 per ten-year increase) and travel to higher-risk destinations (OR = 2.92 [2.17–3.93] p < 0.001); travellers visiting friends and relatives (VFRs) were less likely to have received pre-travel vaccines (OR = 0.74 [0.56–0.97] p = 0.028). Predictors for wanting vaccination against hypothetical diseases included past pre-travel vaccination (Disease X: OR 2.60 [1.91–3.56] p < 0.001) and confidence in vaccine safety (Disease X: OR 7.18 [5.07–10.18], p < 0.001); past VFR travel was predictive of not wanting vaccination (Disease X: OR 0.72 [0.52–1.00], p = 0.049). Most (63%) were interested in using a vaccine decision aid, generally together with a trusted health professional. Conclusions Health professionals play an important role in supporting pre-travel vaccine decision-making. However, our findings indicate that reliable, accurate and engaging digital resources, such as decision aids, could support travellers to make informed pre-travel vaccine decisions.