Influenza and Intentions to Vaccinate in an Underserved Hispanic Population: The Role of Theoretically Derived Constructs.

BACKGROUND

Past research has focused on understanding influenza vaccine acceptance in non-Hispanic white populations; however, research on the social causes of influenza vaccine acceptance rates in Hispanic populations is slowly developing.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess theoretically driven predictors (i.e. attitudes, perceptions, behaviors, etc.) on influenza and the intention to vaccinate.

METHODS

A survey was administered to assess predictors of intentions to receive the influenza vaccine. The survey included items adapted from the National Flu Survey.

RESULTS

Key constructs common in models of health behaviors emerged as predictors of behavioral intentions to receive the flu vaccine. Recent vaccination within the past year ( < 0.001), perceived effectiveness of the flu vaccine ( < 0.004), and perceived safety of the flu vaccine ( = 0.009) were predictors of intentions to vaccinate. Exploratory analyses revealed that government distrust was a statistically significant predictor of intentions to vaccinate ( = 0.044).

CONCLUSION

The above results have important implications for health-care providers and public health educators. The better we understand the relationship between theoretically driven predictors and vaccine behaviors, the more educators and health-care providers can focus on meaningful, culturally sensitive, targeted-vaccine education.