Psychometric properties of the vaccine hesitancy scale parent form in Turkey

Vaccine hesitation is a global phenomenon that is increasing every other day all over the world and affects the health of all children and adolescents. Delaying the decision to have vaccines and/or refusing vaccines as a result of parents' concerns about vaccines cause the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases to increase and endanger herd immunity. The "Vaccine Hesitancy Scale-Parent Form" is a measurement tool that evaluates the vaccine hesitancy of parents with children aged 9-16 years. The purpose of this research is to test the psychometric properties of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale-Parent Form in Turkey. This descriptive, comparative, correlational, and methodological study was conducted with 201 parents. The data of the study were collected by using a Descriptive Data Form and the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale-Parent Form. Count and percentage analysis and validity and reliability analyses were used in the analysis and evaluation of study data. The scale consists of 9 items and two sub-dimensions. The first sub-dimension (seven items) is about parents' lack of confidence in vaccines, and the second sub-dimension (two items) is about the risks of vaccines. As a result of the explanatory factor analysis, it was determined that the scale consisted of two sub-dimensions and that they explained 72.319% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the total scale was determined as 0.900. The fit indices of the scale were found as follows: Goodness-of-Fit Index, 0.954; Comparative Fit Index, 0.984. In the study, it was determined that the Turkish version of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale-Parent Form was a valid and reliable measurement tool. All healthcare professionals can use this scale to assess the vaccine hesitations of parents with children aged 9-16 years.