Table 2.

Examples of good and bad open conversation skills included in the pre- and poststudy measure.

Objective and skill		Good response	Bad response
Build trust
	Find mutual value	I am worried about the safety of the vaccine for my family. What if it made them sick?a Response: I’m concerned about my family’s health too and also feel responsible if something bad was to happen to them.	Hey, so I’m unvaccinated but I’m still gonna go over to my friend’s house who is really strict about people being vaccinated. Response: Hmn, that’s not something I would do. I would respect other’s decisions.
	Respect autonomy	I can’t believe the government is suggesting that everyone should get vaccinated. This is my health, my decision. Response: The choice is yours and only you can make it. What would help you make your decision?	These COVID regulations are ridiculous, next thing you know I’ll have to wear a hazmat suit to go shopping.a Response: You should respect other people’s health and follow the regulations.
	Don’t lecture or persuade (don’t be an expert)	How can they even be sure the vaccine is safe if they made it so fast? It was rushed, who knows what steps they missed!a Response: I think it might have something to do with reducing all the red tape that helped speed things up but I’m not sure. Let’s look into it together!	I am concerned about the side-effects of the vaccine. I heard that they can get pretty bad. Response: Have you looked at the data? I have, and the side-effects are minor. You should look into what can happen if you don’t get the vaccine.
Offer support
	Ask for perspective	My friend has a party but she says I need to be vaccinated to go, not sure how I feel about it? Response: What makes you unsure?	I don’t believe getting a booster vaccine is really necessary.a Response: It’s interesting how you justify putting other people at risk.
	Affirm feelings or perspective; acknowledge past efforts or successes	I’m unsure about whether to take the vaccine, it seems dangerous.a Response: It is good that you are critical and don’t rush into things when you are unsure. Remember when you had to switch to that new medication and felt better when you looked into it more?	Our neighbours were strict with the social distancing thing and one of them got it anyway. And they are both vaccinated! So I just don’t see the point. Response: That’s not how to think about it. Just because they got it doesn’t mean it’s not worth you making any effort.
Open up
	Ask open questions	For now, I don’t want to get the vaccine. Just because everyone else has decided to get it, doesn’t mean that I have to as well. Response: If you were to consider getting the vaccine, what would change your mind?	How would a mask even help against a virus?a Response: Did you look at the evidence?
	Be resilient if the other is right	First we were told not to bother with masks, and then we were told to wear masks everywhere! These backflips don’t help.a Response: That’s true, the changing recommendations about wearing masks did not help. It goes to show how uncertain things were at the beginning.	I’m waiting, that’s all. It takes time to make sure that the vaccine is safe for everyone. Response: Yeah I’ve heard that point before but let’s focus on why it is important that all healthy people should get vaccinated.
Don’t be sad if it doesn’t work out
	Accept negative outcomes (the conversation may not work out)	It’s clear that you and I are not on the same page about this. I have my reasons, you have yours. Response: That’s OK, thanks for helping me understand your reasons. It seems like it doesn’t work out, so let’s leave it there and maybe we can speak again next week?	Look I just don’t think we are ever going to agree on this.a Response: You don’t appreciate my views! But give me one more try and I bet I can change your mind on this one.

^aItems included in the prestudy survey.