title: Vaccinating parents experience vaccine anxiety too.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify common causes of parental anxiety regarding childhood vaccinations among parents who vaccinate. Another purpose was to seek recommendations for healthcare providers to help parents overcome their anxiety when their children are immunized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four 1-h focus groups were conducted, each consisting of 8-10 parents. Each focus group discussion was conducted by a moderator and an assistant moderator. The moderator facilitated discussion while the assistant moderator took notes. Each session was recorded on video. The data were transcribed and analyzed for themes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents identifying themselves as being compliant with childhood vaccination requirements reported anxiety that can be divided into five major themes: parental anxiety prior to vaccination, parental anxiety during the vaccination, parental anxiety after the vaccination, parental suggestions for healthcare providers, and informational issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Making minor changes in office policies may help alleviate some parental anxiety regarding vaccinations. Providers should also create lists of credible sources about vaccination information. Because the cause of vaccine-related parental anxiety varies, targeted education is necessary to relieve common causes of vaccine anxiety, even among parents who vaccinate.
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
authors.forename: Karlen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Luthy
authors.forename: Renea L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Beckstrand
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Asay
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hewett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Children; immunization; parenting; vaccination