Worth a Shot: A randomised controlled trial testing a brief mindset intervention on COVID-19 vaccine recipients

Abstract

Mindsets towards health play an influential role in health outcomes. Research suggests that encouraging adaptive mindsets in health contexts can enhance positive treatment outcomes. A prevalent barrier to successful treatment outcomes is negative interpretations of side effects. Vaccines are one such treatment whereby concern about side effects lowers vaccine uptake and consequently increases harm caused by infectious disease. Mindset based interventions represent a new approach that provides information on possible side effects, while simultaneously reducing negative interpretations by framing side effects as positive signals that the vaccine is working in the body. A randomised controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effects of a brief mindset intervention encouraging recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine to view side effects to the vaccine as positive signals that it is working in the body. One hundred and forty-three participants were recruited across two vaccine clinics in Auckland after having received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A significant limitation of the study was the six-week delay in recruitment due to the New Zealand Government imposing lockdown restrictions in Auckland in August of 2021. Approximately 80% of Aucklanders had already received their first dose of the vaccine when recruitment was able to commence. Eligible participants were randomised to receive a symptoms as positive signals intervention or be placed in a control group whereby standard vaccine information was assessed. A follow-up questionnaire was delivered to participants three-days after their vaccine via email. Measures included evaluation of vaccine information, mindset towards the COVID-19 vaccine, negative expectations about side effects, side effect reporting and experience, and intentions to vaccinate in future. Analyses of results revealed that the symptoms as positive signals intervention did not significantly improve side effect reporting (p = .289), side effect experience (p = .265), or intentions to vaccinate in future (p = .175). However, participants rated the interventional information higher than standard information assessed by the control group ( p = .008). Furthermore, mindset towards the COVID-19 vaccine showed significant positive enhancement immediately after receiving the vaccine for participants in the intervention group (p < .001), but this change in mindset was not found at the three-day follow-up (p = .118). This study is the first to test a symptoms as positive signals intervention on vaccine recipients. While the intervention provided no beneficial effects on side effect reporting or experience, further studies are required to validate and build on these findings. Ultimately, the results of this study provide a useful contribution towards the exciting and emerging area of research that is mindsets.