Predictors of influenza vaccine acceptance among healthy adults.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies investigating predictors of influenza vaccine acceptance have focused on high-risk patients or health care workers. Few studies have examined flu shot acceptance among healthy adults in workplace settings, even though influenza vaccine is recommended for this group as well.


METHODS
Two studies investigated predictors of flu vaccine acceptance in workplace samples of healthy adults. In the first study, 79 university employees were interviewed, while in the second, 435 corporate employees completed a questionnaire.


RESULTS
In the first study, flu shot acceptance was predicted by perceived effectiveness of the vaccine (r = 0.36), perceived likelihood of vaccine side effects (r = -0.32), and having received the shot in the previous year (r = 0.25). In the second study, flu shot acceptance was again predicted by perceived effectiveness (r = 0.49), likelihood of side effects (r = -0.31), and previous flu shot (r = 0.66) and was also related to older age (r = 0.10) and to predicted percentage of co-workers who also received the shot (r = 0.24).


CONCLUSIONS
The current studies indicate that predictors of vaccine acceptance among healthy adults are similar to those identified in studies of high-risk patient populations and health care workers.
Chapman
G B
GB
Psychology Department, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA. gbc@rci.rutgers.edu
Coups
E J
EJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D017132:Workplace
D007252:Influenza Vaccines