Protocol for a Scoping Review of Evidence Pertaining to Public Willingness to Receive Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Trichomoniasis Vaccines

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to map the existing literature pertaining to individuals’ willingness to receive Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Trichomoniasis vaccines, understand the methods researchers are using to assess these attitudes, and provide a foundational summary to inform future vaccine rollout. Background: STIs like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Trichomoniasis, are a persistent problem despite current intervention strategies. While there are vaccines in development for these diseases, without effective implementation, their utility may fall short. This scoping review will map the existing information about individuals’ willingness to receive Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Trichomoniasis vaccines and identify gaps or disparities in the existing literature. Inclusion Criteria: We will examine texts that assess individuals’ attitudes and/or hesitancy towards Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Trichomoniasis vaccines intended for humans in any geographic context. Studies of all designs will be included. Methods: For this synthesis, we will test our search terms in PubMed and Scopus, conduct searchers in a series of databases, perform title and abstract reviews on all returned texts, and then perform full-text reviews to confirm inclusion. We will review references of selected texts. The reviewers will conduct data abstraction on selected texts to map the synthesized evidence, and conduct basic thematic analysis on the survey instruments utilized in the selected texts. Discussion: For vaccines to reduce the impact of disease, they must reach their intended audiences while remaining accessible and unstigmatized. With this scoping review, we will provide insight into individuals’ attitudes towards curable STI vaccines, while also highlighting gaps in knowledge, so that future implementation programs have the background knowledge necessary to ensure vaccine rollouts are successful.