Effects of telehealth during pregnancy on childhood vaccine attitudes and timeliness: A randomized controlled trial

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a telehealth intervention on pregnant women's attitudes toward childhood vaccines and vaccination timeliness. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in primary healthcare centers in Istanbul, T & uuml;rkiye, between August 2022 and March 2023. A total of 173 pregnant women in their third trimester were randomized into two groups: telehealth (n = 86) and control (n = 87). The telehealth group received structured telehealth intervention, including a vaccination information video, e-brochures, and reminder messages from the last trimester until the infant's six-month vaccinations. The control group received only standard institutional procedures. Data were collected using an Information Form, the Vaccine Attitudes Scale, and a Vaccine Follow-up Form. Results: Baseline characteristics and vaccine attitude scores were similar between groups. After the intervention, the telehealth group demonstrated significantly more positive vaccine attitudes compared to the control group. Attitude scores improved in the telehealth group while declining in the control group. Vaccination timeliness and uptake of non-routine vaccines did not differ significantly between groups. However, family-related delays were more frequent in the control group. Conclusions: The telehealth intervention significantly improved maternal vaccine attitudes but did not significantly affect vaccination timeliness. Integrating telehealth-based vaccination counseling into primary healthcare services may help address vaccine hesitancy by supporting informed decision-making. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05713526 https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05713526?term=aksucu&rank=1