What factors affect influenza vaccine uptake among community-dwelling older Chinese people in Hong Kong general outpatient clinics?

AIM

This study aimed to identify the influenza vaccination rate among community-dwelling older Chinese people in Hong Kong general outpatient clinics and to identify the factors affecting their vaccine uptake.

BACKGROUND

Community-dwelling older Chinese people in Hong Kong underuse influenza vaccination. The first step to increase their vaccination rates is to understand the factors affecting their influenza vaccine uptake.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective and descriptive study.

METHODS

The sample comprised 197 subjects from five general outpatient clinics in the Kowloon East cluster of Hong Kong. A self-report questionnaire was used for data collection via individual face-to-face interviews.

RESULTS

Out of 197 subjects, 64.47% reported having received the vaccine within the previous 12 months. The regression model revealed that perceived benefits including 'vaccination prevents me from catching influenza (OR = 12.18, CI = 3.61-41.07, p < 0.001)', 'If I get vaccinated, I will decrease the frequency of medical consultation (OR = 8.12, CI = 2.70-24.38, p = 0.001)' and 'If I am vaccinated and still get flu, I will not be as sick with it (OR = 0.43, CI = 0.24-0.76, p = 0.004)', perceived barriers, which are 'the side-effects of influenza vaccination interfere with my usual activities (OR = 0.04, CI = 0.01-0.13, p < 0.001)', 'influenza vaccination is painful (OR = 2.73, CI = 1.55-4.81, p = 0.001)' and 'I am scared of needles (OR = 0.43, CI = 0.23-0.79, p = 0.007)' and recommendations from doctors (OR = 14.18, CR = 4.09-49.16, p < 0.001) and families (OR = 3.67, CR = 1.24-10.83, p = 0.019) interactively influenced the subjects' vaccine uptake.

CONCLUSION

Specific benefits and barriers affecting the influenza uptake of community-dwelling older Chinese people in general outpatient clinics have been identified. Specifically, recommendation from families plays a significant role in motivating the uptake of this Chinese ageing group.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

We adopt strategies including personal invitation and reminders of influenza vaccination by doctors and educating doctors, older people and their families on influenza vaccination to increase the uptake of community-dwelling Chinese older people in general outpatient clinics.