Preferences of nurses in the United Kingdom for attributes of pediatric hexavalent vaccines

Abstract

Objectives: Given the limited evidence on UK nurses' preferences for pediatric hexavalent vaccines, we aimed to evaluate their preferences for these vaccines' attributes. Methods: In a discrete-choice experiment study, 150 nurses chose between 2 hypothetical pediatric hexavalent vaccines with varying attribute levels (device type, plastic in packaging, time on the market, and time the vaccine can stay safely at room temperature) in a series of choice questions. Using random-parameters logit-model estimates, conditional relative attribute importance (CRAI) and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Results: Device type (with associated preparation time and risk of dosage errors) was the most important attribute (CRAI, 61%), followed by years on the market (CRAI, 25%). The odds of choosing a prefilled syringe were nearly 3 times the odds of choosing syringe-and-vial combinations requiring reconstitution (OR, 2.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.93-3.68). Vaccines on the market for < 1 year were less likely to be preferred to vaccines available for > 3 years (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47-0.84). ORs for time a vaccine can stay at room temperature (3 vs. 6 days) (0.94; 95% CI, 0.71-1.16) and plastic blisters in packaging (1.19; 95% CI, 0.80-1.56) were not significant, indicating that these attributes did not influence choices. Conclusions: In this survey, nurses' preferences were mainly influenced by device type.