The doctoral dissertation deals with the communication of vaccination – a topic that is currently relevant more than ever before. The research focuses on studying the question of how and why are or aren’t mothers of small children involved in communication of vaccination. In this respect, we thoroughly studied their characteristics, properties, views and paid attention to differences between them. We particularly focus on communication activities of mothers of small children in connection with affective and cognitive involvement in a problematic situation in relation to vaccination; with trust in doctors, (health) system, and science..
In our research, we used quantitative data from a survey on a representative (random) sample of mothers of small children, which we supplemented with a qualitative research on the studied public. We used an in-depth think-aloud interview. The combination of qualitative and quantitative research represents an important research value of the dissertation.
The findings show that Slovenian mothers of small children are communicatively active in different ways in relation to vaccination, namely in information selection, information transmission and information acquisition. In doing so, they use different communication channels. Regarding vaccination, they are less communicatively active in relation to traditional media (television, radio, print media), but still use more classic communication tools, such as (printed) brochures and leaflets. They are, however, much more communicatively active on online sources of information in all three forms of communication activity. Online resources are the most important of all communication channels for the mothers of small children who are seeking information related to vaccination.
The dissertation represents an important contribution to science on the theoretical level, as it offers a developed conceptual framework enabling further research in this area. At the same time, it represents the first use of STOPS/CAPS in Slovenia and one of the few in Europe. By using and expanding this theoretical model, the dissertation also contributes empirically to science in the field of public relations and health communication, as well as to the practice of vaccination communication in Slovenia.
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