Explaining higher Covid-19 vaccination among some US primary care professionals

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Healthcare Professionals

Background:

• International studies indicate higher COVID-19 vaccine willingness and uptake among physicians compared to nurses.
• This study addresses the need to characterize and explain the observed disparities in vaccine uptake between these healthcare professional groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake differences between physicians and nurses/advanced practice providers.
• To analyze these differences across the thinking and feeling, social processes, and direct behavior change domains of the Increasing Vaccination Model.

Main Methods:

• A national survey of 1047 U.S. primary care professionals serving adolescents (ages 11-17) was conducted in early 2021.
• The sample comprised physicians (71%), nurses, and advanced practice providers.
• The survey utilized the Increasing Vaccination Model to assess relevant psychosocial and behavioral factors.

Main Results:

• Physicians demonstrated significantly higher COVID-19 vaccine uptake (91%) compared to nurses and advanced practice providers (76%).
• Factors associated with higher uptake included vaccine confidence, perceived susceptibility, anticipated regret, positive social norms, recommendations, desire to help others, invitation, and access.
• Key thinking/feeling and social process variables mediated the relationship between professional training and vaccine uptake.

Conclusions:

• Physicians exhibited greater COVID-19 vaccine uptake, correlating with more favorable vaccine beliefs and social experiences.
• Findings suggest that interventions targeting remaining unvaccinated individuals can leverage these identified psychological and social determinants.