Predictors of Influenza Vaccine

Abstract

A self administered questionnaire with items derived from the Health Belief Model was mailed to a random sample of workers prior to a worksite influenza vaccine program in this descriptive study of 207 service and clerical workers. The researchers investigated the utility of the Health Belief Model in predicting influenza vaccine acceptance. A second postcard questionnaire was mailed after the program to verify the vaccination status. Workers who received the vaccine had higher scores for susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, cues to action, knowledge, and health motivation and lower scores for barriers than did workers who did not receive a vaccine. Logistic regression analysis revealed the importance of benefits, barriers, and cues to action in predicting influenza vaccine acceptance. Study results suggest education and program efforts directed toward increasing benefits, dispelling myths about influenza and the vaccine, reducing barriers, and developing a campaign to increase program awareness may increase workers' vaccine acceptance.