Effect of Primary Care Education on Parents' Health-Related Perceptions and Attitudes

Yuzuncu Yil University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Digital Health Literacy; Childhood Immunization; Vaccine Hesitancy; Eco-anxiety; Vulnerability to Disease; Health Education

Treatments: Behavioral: Structured Education Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07381088

12.01.2026-228398

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to evaluate the effect of a structured education program delivered in primary health care settings on parents of children aged 0-2 years. The education focuses on childhood vaccination and related health perceptions.

Parents will receive education covering childhood vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, evaluation of vaccine-related information obtained from digital sources, eco-anxiety, and perceived vulnerability to diseases. The study examines whether this education influences parents' levels of vaccine hesitancy, digital vaccine literacy, eco-anxiety, and perceived vulnerability to diseases. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of effective educational interventions in primary health care services to support informed parental decision-making regarding childhood vaccination.

Full description

Childhood vaccination is one of the most effective and cost-efficient public health interventions for preventing infectious diseases. However, vaccine hesitancy among parents has emerged as a significant public health concern, particularly in the context of misinformation disseminated through digital media. Parents' attitudes toward vaccination are influenced not only by face-to-face communication with health professionals but also by their ability to access, evaluate, and use vaccine-related information from online sources. In addition, environmental concerns and climate-related health risks have increased levels of eco-anxiety, which may influence individuals' perceptions of vulnerability to diseases and health-related decision-making.

This study is designed as a quasi-experimental, pre-test-post-test, control-group study to evaluate the effect of a structured education program delivered in primary health care services on parents of children aged 0-2 years. The study will be conducted at a Family Health Center in Van, Türkiye. Parents who meet the inclusion criteria and provide written informed consent will be enrolled in the study.

Participants will be assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Parents in the intervention group will receive a structured education program consisting of three face-to-face sessions delivered once per week, with each session lasting approximately 30-40 minutes. The education program includes: (1) childhood vaccines, vaccine hesitancy, and common misconceptions; (2) digital vaccine literacy, reliable information sources, and coping with misinformation; and (3) eco-anxiety, environmental health concerns, perceived vulnerability to diseases, and coping strategies. The control group will receive routine services provided by the Family Health Center and will not receive any additional educational intervention.

Data will be collected using validated self-report instruments administered before the intervention and 15 days after completion of the final education session. The primary outcomes include changes in vaccine hesitancy, digital vaccine literacy, eco-anxiety, and perceived vulnerability to diseases. Sociodemographic information will also be collected. All data will be collected through face-to-face interviews in a private setting, and participant confidentiality will be ensured by using coded identifiers instead of personal information.

The study aims to determine whether education provided within primary health care services can effectively improve parents' attitudes and perceptions related to vaccination and child health. The results are expected to inform future public health education strategies targeting parents during early childhood.

Enrollment: 140 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Parents who have at least one child aged 0-2 years
• Attendance at the Van Tuşba Family Health Center
• Ability to read and write in Turkish
• Willingness to participate voluntarily in the study
• Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder
• Individuals with cognitive or sensory impairments that prevent effective communication
• Individuals who are unable to attend the education sessions
• Individuals who do not complete the baseline assessment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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140 participants in 2 patient groups

Arm 1 (Experimental): Structured Education

Experimental group

Description:

Participants assigned to this arm will receive a structured, face-to-face education program delivered in a primary health care setting. The program consists of three weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 30-40 minutes. The education covers childhood vaccination, vaccine hesitancy, digital vaccine literacy, eco-anxiety, and perceived vulnerability to diseases.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Structured Education Program

Arm Type: Control Group (No Intervention)

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants assigned to this arm will receive routine services provided by the Family Health Center. No additional educational intervention will be administered during the study period.