Investigation of the persuasion strategies of family health center employees towards parents who refuse vaccination

In this thesis, the attitudes and behaviors of Family Health Center (FHC) employees towards parents who reject childhood vaccinations are examined with the aim of persuading them. Within the scope of the study, the methods employed by FHC personnel to persuade parents who reject childhood vaccinations and how parents respond to these persuasion efforts are investigated. This qualitative study, consisting of in-depth interviews conducted with semi-structured questions, utilized a phenomenological design and was carried out with FHC employees selected through snowball sampling method, including physicians, nurses, and midwives. The interviews were conducted using open-ended questions, recorded, and subsequently transcribed. The collected data were coded, categorized into themes, and the key expressions obtained from the recorded interviews were analyzed thematically. According to the findings, the methods and strategies employed by health care professionals (FHC) to persuade parents who reject vaccinations are categorized into two main approaches. The first approach involves attempting to convince parents to vaccinate their children by resorting to intimidation, threats, and sanctions. The second approach involves persuading parents through the provision of information, building trust, and establishing empathy. Based on these persuasion approaches, a persuasion model has been developed for healthcare professionals. In conclusion, this study makes a significant contribution by adopting a national perspective on vaccine rejection and utilizing in-depth qualitative methods. Additionally, the inclusion of a persuasion model suitable for practical application distinguishes the study.