Self-administered digital vaccination decision-aids in primary care: A pilot study of COVID-19 vaccination in Atlanta, GA

Objective Our objective was to develop and test a digital decision-aid tool to help vaccine-hesitant participants make informed decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Methods A multidisciplinary team at Emory University developed an online decision-aid tool that presented information about the virus, vaccine risks/benefits, and vaccination resources. This tool was provided to patients in an Atlanta primary care clinic who were not fully vaccinated/boosted. Participants were then surveyed to assess their knowledge and opinions. Results The tool was administered to 40 patients (55% Black, 70% female, and 45% aged 50 – 69) between January-June2024. Nearly all (97.5%) found the tool useful for improving their understanding of vaccine risks and benefits, with 70% rating it “very” or “extremely” useful. After using the tool, 47.5% of participants reported that the tool had increased their willingness to get vaccinated, and 37.5% indicated they had decided to get vaccinated/boosted. Notably, 22.2% of participants who had never previously received a COVID-19 vaccine stated their intent to get vaccinated after using the tool. Conclusions This pilot study demonstrated that a digital decision-aid tool can improve knowledge and perceptions surrounding COVID-19 vaccination to encourage healthy decision-making. As such, the tool represents a promising adaptable model for self-administered decision aids in broader healthcare contexts.