# The development and psychometric evaluation of vaccine hesitancy and perception scale towards COVID-19 vaccination (VHAPS-CV19)

## TL;DR

This study created a new tool to measure hesitancy and perceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine, validated through expert input and surveys.

## Contribution

A novel psychometric scale for assessing vaccine hesitancy and perceptions specific to COVID-19 was developed and validated.

## Key findings

- A 29-item scale with two factors was developed: vaccine hesitancy and perception and trust.
- The scale includes sub-domains like confidence, complacency, and perceived benefit, validated through factor analysis.
- The instrument can help public health professionals understand and address vaccine hesitancy.

## Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy measurement instrument. Literature demonstrated a theme of seven constructs to include in the instrument: benefits, cost, confidence, convenience, complacency, risk, and perception. Face and content validity was performed using subject matter experts, self-identified COVID-19 hesitant, and non-hesitant individuals. The pilot survey data were collected from the end of December 2022 to May 2023 via an online convenient sample (n = 352). Test re-test analysis was performed 2 weeks following the initial survey (n = 73). After the test re-test and factor analysis, 29 items among two factors emerged. Factor 1 (vaccine hesitancy) includes three sub-domains (confidence, complacency, and convenience). Factor 2 (perception and trust) includes five sub-domains (perceived benefit, barrier, susceptibility, severity, and trust). This study illustrates the development of the vaccine hesitancy scale may assist policymakers and healthcare providers in the reasoning behind vaccine hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines. This research adds an instrument to assist public health practitioners measure COVID-19 vaccine and perception among their patient population.