Factors affecting nurses' decision to get the flu vaccine

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Behavior

Background:

• Influenza vaccination is crucial for healthcare workers to prevent disease transmission.
• Understanding factors influencing vaccination decisions among nurses is vital for improving public health outcomes.
• The Health Belief Model (HBM) provides a framework for analyzing health-related behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors influencing influenza vaccination decisions among nurses in Israel.
• To apply the Health Belief Model (HBM) to understand nurses' flu vaccine uptake.
• To explore the role of perceived benefits, barriers, and cues to action in vaccination.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 299 nurses in Israel during the 2005/2006 winter season.
• Data collected via questionnaires assessing socio-demographics, HBM variables, knowledge, and health motivation.
• Probit regression analysis used to determine significant factors influencing flu vaccination decisions.

Main Results:

• Perceived benefits of vaccination and cues to action were significant predictors of flu shot decisions among Israeli nurses.
• Vaccinated nurses demonstrated higher knowledge of influenza and the vaccine, perceived greater illness seriousness and susceptibility, and higher health motivation.
• Key HBM constructs significantly influenced nurses' intent to receive the influenza vaccine.

Conclusions:

• Educational interventions emphasizing vaccination benefits and influenza's health consequences are recommended to increase nurses' vaccination rates.
• Targeted strategies addressing perceived benefits and providing clear cues to action can enhance healthcare worker immunization.
• Improving influenza vaccination among nurses can mitigate outbreaks in healthcare settings and protect vulnerable patient populations.