The effective use of fear appeals in persuasive immunization: An analysis of national immunization intervention messages

Abstract

This paper reports application of a theoretical persuasive health message framework grounded in literature on fear appeals, message design logic, and health persuasion theory to assess the effectiveness of the materials used most frequently by national immunization organizations in the United States. The severity of the problem of inadequate preschool immunization with its associated target audience and barriers is identified. Analysis revealed that national immunization message designers are creating materials most likely to match what health communication research would recommend along the dimension of response efficacy (i.e., showing parents that attaining immunizations is realistic, available, affordable, safe, and effectively prevents specific diseases). However the materials were least likely to match along the dimension of self‐efficacy (i.e., building parents’ beliefs that they have the ability and motivation to perform preventive immunization behavior for their children). Implications for practitioners in developing more effective immunization fear appeals, and suggestions for future research in the area, are addressed in the Conclusion.