Second Wave of the Study of Taiwanese Caregivers of Children with ADHD in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Intentions to Vaccinate Their Children for COVID-19, and Related Factors

The second wave of the Study of Taiwanese Caregivers of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the COVID-19 Pandemic was conducted at the time of a severe COVID-19 outbreak. The aims of this study were to compare the level of the intentions of caregivers of children with ADHD to vaccinate their children between the first and second waves of study, as well as to examine the COVID-19 pandemic and non-COVID-19 pandemic factors related to caregivers' intentions. In total, 252 caregivers of children with ADHD completed the structured questionnaires, including the Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Scale; the Risk Perception of the COVID-19 Scale; caregivers' Difficulties in Asking Their Children to Adopt Self-Protective Behavior Scale; the Brief Symptom Rating Scale; the Parental Bonding Instrument; the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham version IV Scale; and the questionnaires for the intentions to vaccinate their children and child's medication use for treating ADHD. The results demonstrated that 82.5% of caregivers reported their willingness to vaccinate their children definitely or under doctors' recommendation; the level of intentions to vaccinate significantly increased compared with that of caregivers in the first wave of the study. Caregivers' drivers of COVID-19 vaccination uptake, namely, values, impact, and autonomy but not knowledge; being male caregivers; being caregivers of girls; and the older age of the children were positively associated with caregiverscaregivers' intentions. The specific intervention programs for enhancing caregivers' intentions should be specified according to the sex and age of caregivers and of the children with ADHD. The Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake should be also the target of intervention for enhancing caregivers' intentions through strengthening caregivers' acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines' values, positive impact and autonomy to vaccinate their children.

Automated summary

This study examined the intentions of caregivers of children with ADHD to vaccinate their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed an increase in caregivers' intentions to vaccinate, and identified factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, caregiver gender, and child's age that were positively associated with intentions. Tailored intervention programs should be developed to enhance caregivers' intentions based on these factors.