Key Findings:
- Three preference subgroups were identified among pregnant people regarding RSV preventives: 'Effectiveness', 'Season', and 'No Preventive'.
- Most pregnant people preferred a maternal vaccine over monoclonal antibodies (mAb).
- Effectiveness and duration of protection during the RSV season were the primary drivers of preventive choice.
Implementation Tips for Practitioners:
- Understand Patient Preferences: Recognize that pregnant people may have different preferences for RSV preventives. Tailor your discussions to highlight the attributes that matter most to them, such as effectiveness or duration of protection.
- Educate on Effectiveness: Emphasize the high effectiveness of RSV preventives, especially to those who prioritize this attribute. Use clear and simple language to explain how these preventives can protect their infants from severe RSV illness.
- Discuss Duration of Protection: For those who value the duration of protection, explain how long the preventive will protect their infant during the RSV season. Provide comparisons between different preventive options.
- Address Concerns about Monoclonal Antibodies: Some pregnant people may prefer mAb over vaccines. Address any concerns they may have about vaccines and provide information on the safety and efficacy of mAbs.
- Targeted Educational Efforts: Use the study’s findings to develop targeted educational materials that address the specific concerns and preferences of different subgroups of pregnant people.
Encouraging Further Research:
Practitioners should stay informed about ongoing research and developments in RSV preventives. Encourage patients to ask questions and seek information from reliable sources. By staying updated, practitioners can provide the most current and accurate information to their patients.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: A latent class analysis of factors influencing preferences for infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) preventives among pregnant people in the United States.
