Bland Marian, Clear Geraldine M, Grogan Adrianna, Hoare Kath, Waldock Jan
School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, UCOL, Private Bag 11022, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
N Z Med J. 2009 Dec 11;122(1307):30-8.
To identify the factors that influenced young adults (aged 16-19 years) when deciding whether or not to be immunised during the MeNZB campaign.
Semi-structured interviews were held with 11 young adults (7 who consented to the Meningococcal B immunisation and 4 who did not) to explore their immunisation decision. A qualitative descriptive data analysis was then undertaken to reveal the latent and manifest themes arising from the interviews.
Similar influences on the decision-making process were described by all the young adults, regardless of the outcome. These included weighing up the risks involved, and making collaborative decisions with their families, especially their mothers. Situating the decision in a personal context required the young adults to consider factors such as needle-phobia, herd immunity, and the accessibility of the immunisation.
The information used in immunisation campaigns involving young adults must be carefully balanced so that the situation becomes real to the target group, while also helping inform others, especially parents, who will be involved in the decision-making process.
