Evaluating the importance of policy amenable factors in explaining influenza vaccination: a cross-sectional multinational study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluating the importance of policy amenable factors in explaining influenza vaccination

T2 - a cross-sectional multinational study

AU - Wheelock, Ana

AU - Miraldo, Marisa

AU - Thomson, Angus

AU - Vincent, Charles

AU - Sevdalis, Nick

N1 - © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

PY - 2017/7

Y1 - 2017/7

N2 - OBJECTIVES: Despite continuous efforts to improve influenza vaccination coverage, uptake among high-risk groups remains suboptimal. We aimed to identify policy amenable factors associated with vaccination and to measure their importance in order to assist in the monitoring of vaccination sentiment and the design of communication strategies and interventions to improve vaccination rates.SETTING: The USA, the UK and France.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2412 participants were surveyed across the three countries.OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported influenza vaccination.METHODS: Between March and April 2014, a stratified random sampling strategy was employed with the aim of obtaining nationally representative samples in the USA, the UK and France through online databases and random-digit dialling. Participants were asked about vaccination practices, perceptions and feelings. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with past influenza vaccination.RESULTS: The models were able to explain 64%-80% of the variance in vaccination behaviour. Overall, sociopsychological variables, which are inherently amenable to policy, were better at explaining past vaccination behaviour than demographic, socioeconomic and health variables. Explanatory variables included social influence (physician), influenza and vaccine risk perceptions and traumatic childhood experiences.CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that evidence-based sociopsychological items should be considered for inclusion into national immunisation surveys to gauge the public's views, identify emerging concerns and thus proactively and opportunely address potential barriers and harness vaccination drivers.

AB - OBJECTIVES: Despite continuous efforts to improve influenza vaccination coverage, uptake among high-risk groups remains suboptimal. We aimed to identify policy amenable factors associated with vaccination and to measure their importance in order to assist in the monitoring of vaccination sentiment and the design of communication strategies and interventions to improve vaccination rates.SETTING: The USA, the UK and France.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2412 participants were surveyed across the three countries.OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported influenza vaccination.METHODS: Between March and April 2014, a stratified random sampling strategy was employed with the aim of obtaining nationally representative samples in the USA, the UK and France through online databases and random-digit dialling. Participants were asked about vaccination practices, perceptions and feelings. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with past influenza vaccination.RESULTS: The models were able to explain 64%-80% of the variance in vaccination behaviour. Overall, sociopsychological variables, which are inherently amenable to policy, were better at explaining past vaccination behaviour than demographic, socioeconomic and health variables. Explanatory variables included social influence (physician), influenza and vaccine risk perceptions and traumatic childhood experiences.CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that evidence-based sociopsychological items should be considered for inclusion into national immunisation surveys to gauge the public's views, identify emerging concerns and thus proactively and opportunely address potential barriers and harness vaccination drivers.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014668

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014668

M3 - Article

C2 - 28706088

SN - 2044-6055

VL - 7

JO - BMJ open

JF - BMJ open

IS - 7

M1 - e014668

ER -