Reasons why nurses decline influenza vaccination: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare worker vaccination
• Infectious disease prevention
• Nursing studies

Background:

• Low seasonal influenza vaccination rates persist among nursing staff, despite its importance in protecting vulnerable patients.
• Existing research on healthcare worker vaccination barriers primarily uses quantitative methods, leaving qualitative insights limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the reasons behind unvaccinated nursing staff's decisions regarding seasonal influenza vaccination.
• To understand the qualitative barriers influencing nurses' vaccine acceptance.

Main Methods:

• Conducted in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews with 18 nurses in Switzerland.
• Utilized conventional content analysis to transcribe and analyze interview data.

Main Results:

• Identified three core themes influencing vaccine refusal: maintaining a strong/healthy body, preserving decisional autonomy, and distrust in the healthcare environment.
• Nurses' decisions were more influenced by personal health beliefs than by evidence-based medicine.

Conclusions:

• Interventions to boost influenza vaccination rates in nurses must be specifically tailored to their unique concerns and beliefs.
• Empowering nurses with enhanced decision-making skills and critical appraisal abilities is crucial.
• Integrating evidence-based decision-making education into nursing curricula and practice settings is recommended.