Determinants and Motivations of Vaccination Hesitancy and Uptake in Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Vaccinations are essential to ensure protection for healthcare professionals, patients and communities. However, vaccination hesitancy has been reported among healthcare professionals. Nurses are the main, first and direct point of contact for patients and citizens in most healthcare services, but only a minority of studies investigated vaccination hesitancy and uptake specifically in this population. Thus, this study aimed to explore the determinants and motivations of vaccination hesitancy and uptake among nurses.

Systematic review with a narrative synthesis approach.

We included primary research exploring determinants or motivations of vaccination hesitancy or uptake among nurses. No time or geographical limit was applied. Generalised random-effects linear models with a logit link were used to calculate the pooled estimated proportions for vaccine uptake among nurses.

We explored nine databases (2023).

The initial search identified 3452 records; 42 records were eventually included in this review. Older age, longer professional experience, lack of confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness and cost associated with the vaccine were among the most common determinants of vaccine hesitancy. Safety concerns, complacency (e.g., beliefs of not needing the vaccine), and accessibility (e.g., logistics) were among the most common motivations for being vaccine hesitant. Having strong confidence in the vaccine, a high sense of collective responsibility, previous vaccination uptake/positive intentions towards future vaccination, weaker vaccine complacency, and older age were among the most common determinants of vaccine uptake. Willingness to protect themselves and/or others, contribute to the herd immunity, and comply with recommendations were among the most common motivations for vaccine uptake. The pooled prevalence of influenza vaccine uptake among nurses was 44% (95% CI: 35-73).

The findings of this systematic review with meta-analysis could guide the identification of strategies to reduce barriers and further improve facilitators to eventually increase vaccine uptake in nurses.

This study contributes to further understanding nurses' beliefs, barriers, and facilitators towards vaccination. By doing so, these results could guide the identification of strategies to reduce barriers and further improve facilitators to eventually increase vaccine uptake in nurses.

We have adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines, in particular to the PRISMA checklist.

No patient or public contribution.

PROSPERO number: CRD42020212252.