BACKGROUND: Past research has focused on understanding influenza vaccine acceptance in non-Hispanic white populations; however, research on the social causes of influenza vaccine acceptance rates in Hispanic populations is slowly developing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess theoretically driven predictors (i.e. attitudes, perceptions, behaviors, etc.) on influenza and the intention to vaccinate. METHODS: A survey was administered to assess predictors of intentions to receive the influenza vaccine. The survey included items adapted from the National Flu Survey. RESULTS: Key constructs common in models of health behaviors emerged as predictors of behavioral intentions to receive the flu vaccine. Recent vaccination within the past year (P < 0.001), perceived effectiveness of the flu vaccine (P < 0.004), and perceived safety of the flu vaccine (P = 0.009) were predictors of intentions to vaccinate. Exploratory analyses revealed that government distrust was a statistically significant predictor of intentions to vaccinate (P = 0.044). CONCLUSION: The above results have important implications for health-care providers and public health educators. The better we understand the relationship between theoretically driven predictors and vaccine behaviors, the more educators and health-care providers can focus on meaningful, culturally sensitive, targeted-vaccine education.
BACKGROUND: Past research has focused on understanding influenza vaccine acceptance in non-Hispanic white populations; however, research on the social causes of influenza vaccine acceptance rates in Hispanic populations is slowly developing. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess theoretically driven predictors (i.e. attitudes, perceptions, behaviors, etc.) on influenza and the intention to vaccinate. METHODS: A survey was administered to assess predictors of intentions to receive the influenza vaccine. The survey included items adapted from the National Flu Survey. RESULTS: Key constructs common in models of health behaviors emerged as predictors of behavioral intentions to receive the flu vaccine. Recent vaccination within the past year (P < 0.001), perceived effectiveness of the flu vaccine (P < 0.004), and perceived safety of the flu vaccine (P = 0.009) were predictors of intentions to vaccinate. Exploratory analyses revealed that government distrust was a statistically significant predictor of intentions to vaccinate (P = 0.044). CONCLUSION: The above results have important implications for health-care providers and public health educators. The better we understand the relationship between theoretically driven predictors and vaccine behaviors, the more educators and health-care providers can focus on meaningful, culturally sensitive, targeted-vaccine education.
Entities:
Keywords:
Hispanic; health belief model; immunizations; perceptions; vaccines
Authors: Apple Long; Sheryl Mathew; Kristin S Alvarez; Jillian Smartt; Monal Shah; Christopher Madden; Trish M Perl; Fred P Cerise; Kavita P Bhavan Journal: Health Equity Date: 2021-05-24