Exploring meningococcal serogroup B vaccination conversations under shared clinical decision-making in the US.

Objective: In 2019, the United States Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated their meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccination recommendation for 16-‍23-year-olds from individual to shared clinical decision-making (SCDM). SCDM recommendations are individually based and informed by a decision process between patients and healthcare providers (HCPs). MenB vaccination among 16-23-year-olds remains low. We examined recorded conversations in which MenB vaccine-related discussions between HCPs and patients/caregivers took place, and how these interactions changed following the updated SCDM recommendation. Methods: An analysis of recordings where MenB vaccination was discussed between HCPs and patients (16-‍23 years old)/caregivers was conducted using retrospective anonymized dialogue data (8/2015-9/2022). Shared decision-making strength was measured using a modified OPTION5 framework. Results: Of 97 included recorded conversations, the average duration was 11.3 minutes. Within these conversations, MenB disease was discussed for 0.25 minutes (38.9% of words in total vaccine-preventable diseases discussion) and MenB vaccination was discussed for 1.36 minutes (60.9% of words in total vaccine discussion), on average. HCPs spoke 78.8% of MenB vaccine-related words and most (99.0%) initiated the MenB vaccination discussion. In 40.2% of recordings, HCPs acknowledged the MenB vaccine without providing a clear recommendation. HCP recommendations often favored MenB vaccination (87.0%) and recommendations were 21.4% stronger post-recommendation change to SCDM. As measured by the modified OPTION5 framework, most recordings did not reflect a high degree of shared decision-making between HCPs and patients/caregivers. Conclusions: MenB vaccination discussions were brief, and the degree of shared decision-making was low. Targeted education of HCPs and patients/caregivers may improve MenB vaccination awareness, SCDM implementation, and vaccine uptake.