@Article{info:doi/10.2196/54680, author="Kanan, Mohammed and Abdulrahman, Samar and Alshehri, Abdulaziz and AlSuhaibani, Renad and Alotaibi, Nawaf M and Alsaleh, Azhar and Nasser, Bushra and Baowaydhan, Rana and Alredaini, Ibrahim and Khalid, Taif and Almukhtar, Fatima and Altoaimi, Nourah and Alhneshel, Almaha and Alanazi, Shouq and Algmaizi, Shahad", title="Factors Underlying Vaccine Hesitancy and Their Mitigations in Saudi Arabia: Protocol for a Systematic Review", journal="JMIR Res Protoc", year="2024", month="Mar", day="22", volume="13", pages="e54680", keywords="acceptance; campaigns; effectiveness; factors; hesitancy; immunization rates; immunization; intervention; literature analysis; misinformation; mitigations; prevention; protocol; public health; review methodology; review methods; Saudi Arabia; search; searching; syntheses; synthesis; systematic review; systematic; vaccination; vaccine hesitancy; vaccine", abstract="Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a growing concern in Saudi Arabia, impacting even well-educated parents. The decision-making process involves various factors such as accessibility, trustworthy information, and the influence of social networks, reflecting a complex interplay of emotional, cultural, social, spiritual, and political dimensions. Objective: This review seeks to evaluate the prevalence and trends of vaccine hesitancy, identify contributing factors, and explore potential solutions to enhance immunization rates. This review aligns with global concerns, as the World Health Organization has identified vaccine hesitancy as a top global health threat. Methods: Our systematic review will follow the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study) criteria for comprehensive assessment. We will conduct a thorough search across various databases, encompassing a wide range of vaccines, and pay special attention to vaccination campaigns and refusals. Inclusion criteria involve descriptive, observational, and analytical studies focusing on factors influencing vaccine acceptance or hesitancy. The study will use the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool for quality assessment and perform a narrative synthesis to summarize findings thematically. Results: This systematic review is expected to unveil the prevalence and trends of vaccine hesitancy in diverse populations in Saudi Arabia, shedding light on cultural, religious, and social factors contributing to hesitancy. It aims to assess the effectiveness of implemented strategies, enable regional and global comparisons, and provide implications for tailored vaccination policies. Additionally, the review may pinpoint research gaps, guiding future investigations to address and mitigate vaccine hesitancy effectively. Conclusions: The findings are expected to have direct policy implications and guide interventions to strengthen vaccination programs and improve public health outcomes. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/54680 ", issn="1929-0748", doi="10.2196/54680", url="https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e54680", url="https://doi.org/10.2196/54680", url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38517463" }