Culture-centric narratives of influenza vaccination among high-risk groups in Hong Kong

Abstract

Summary Despite the effectiveness of influenza vaccination, the vaccine coverage rate among high-risk groups in Hong Kong is less than optimal. Guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM) and culture-centric narrative approach, we examined the role of cultural specificities in implicit assumptions held by at-risk individuals when the individuals decided whether to receive the vaccine. Data were collected from 29 in-depth interviews with people from high-risk groups in Hong Kong. From their decision narratives, it is evident that the local socio-cultural characteristics and collectivistic ideology are useful in understanding the perceptions of influenza severity, susceptibility to infection, perceived barriers and benefits, and self-efficacy of accepting or rejecting the vaccine among the high-risk individuals. Implications of vaccination message designs are discussed.