Occupational Therapists Views and Beliefs Regarding the Risks and Benefits of Childhood Vaccinations

ABSTRACT

This study presents findings from an exploratory study of occupational therapists’ views and beliefs regarding childhood vaccination safety and vaccination requirements for day care and school attendance. One-on-one, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted over a six-week period with 25 pediatric occupational therapists across the United States. Participants expressed ideas similar to those found in surveys of parent vaccination attitudes and beliefs, as well as the need to extend the vaccination schedule to prevent overloading a child's immune system. Differences among participants were most clearly seen when comparing those with post-entry-level training to those with only an entry-level degree. The results appear to support the idea that lack of clear communication of public health concepts extends to healthcare professionals as well as consumers.

KEYWORDS. :

• childhood vaccinations
• vaccination beliefs
• vaccine preventable diseases