It is common in American culture to label people by their occupation, hobbies or beliefs. This makes it convenient to view the recipients of these labels as one-dimensional. One group that has been more prevalent in the media is the growth of “anti-vaxxers”. By understanding the stories and motivations of the people in this group, we are able to look beyond the label and better address their reservations.
Asking open-ended questions can help address patient’s concerns in a non-judgmental way. This process is called motivational interviewing and typically begins with healthcare professionals deducing where the patient is in the decision-making process. This can benefit the hesitant patient by providing them with the resources if/when they choose to advance their journey.
With the battle of misinformation perpetuated through various news outlets and social media, scientific distortions have become increasingly prevalent. Scientific distortions can be contested by presenting concise and factual information. Offering information from reputable sources is the most effective way to increase public trust in science. The sad truth, however, is that facts only go a certain distance. Sharing stories of people in similar situations may prove to be more effective and accessible than presenting facts in isolation.
Cognitive biases are understood to be an individual’s construction of reality and is not based on objective input. This means that people are more ready and willing to accept information that does not challenge their existing views. Though one conversation with a healthcare worker may not cause a patient to adopt a different mindset, it will allow for a more streamlined message.
These techniques are just some simple ways to approach the sensitive topic of vaccinations. My goal is to provide some perspective on this topic so we can effectively deliver information to our patients.
By Shwetha Ramanathan, Class of 2022
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