Exploring Parental Vaccine Hesitancy: Reflexive Thematic Analysis—Insights from Traditional vs. AI Methods

Vaccine hesitancy among parents of young children extends beyond individual family choice and impact; it is an imminent health challenge with far-reaching consequences. This study explores the underlying beliefs of parents through qualitative interviews and compares Traditional human-led reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) with AI-assisted RTA using ChatGPT. It examines latent beliefs contributing to vaccine hesitancy among parents of children under 18 and evaluates the effectiveness of Traditional RTA versus AI-assisted RTA. A basic qualitative research design was used to explore how individuals construct meaning from their experiences. Semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted with 18 participants recruited via convenience sampling through social media. Data were analyzed using RTA, and traditional methods were compared with AI-assisted RTA using ChatGPT. Traditional RTA identified four main themes: influences and perceptions shaping vaccine decisions, trust and concerns in vaccine decision-making, attitudes toward vaccine mandates, and alternative perspectives on vaccinations. AI-assisted RTA discovered five and six themes, respectively. Parental perspectives were shaped by personal and vicarious experiences, trust in healthcare providers, and various information sources. The methodological comparison revealed that Traditional RTA provided a more nuanced and comprehensive analysis than AI-driven RTAs, though the AI analyses were significantly faster.