Intention to vaccinate for Lyme disease using the Health Belief Model

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Behavior Research
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Lyme disease (LD) affects nearly 500,000 individuals annually in the US, with current protective measures lacking consistent efficacy.
• The development of safe and effective Lyme disease vaccines is ongoing, but factors influencing vaccination intention remain unclear.
• The Health Belief Model (HBM) provides a framework for understanding health behaviors, but has not been applied to Lyme disease vaccination intention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply the Health Belief Model (HBM) framework to identify key drivers of Lyme disease vaccine intention.
• To explore differences in vaccination intention between at-risk adults and caregivers of children in Lyme disease-endemic areas.
• To assess the influence of HBM constructs on the intention to vaccinate against Lyme disease.

Main Methods:

• Data were collected from 874 adults and 834 caregivers in US states endemic to Lyme disease.
• Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships between HBM constructs and vaccination intention.
• The study examined how perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and cues to action influence vaccine intention.

Main Results:

• HBM constructs significantly explain variation in Lyme disease vaccine intention for both adults and caregivers.
• Vaccine intention was positively influenced by cues to action, perceived susceptibility, and perceived benefits for both groups.
• Caregiver intention was positively influenced by perceived severity but negatively by safety concerns; adult intention was negatively influenced by perceived barriers.

Conclusions:

• Cues to action, such as recommendations from healthcare providers or the CDC, strongly influence Lyme disease vaccine intention.
• Understanding perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers is essential for promoting Lyme disease vaccination.
• Tailoring public health messaging based on the HBM can enhance vaccine uptake strategies.