title: Student nurses' reasons behind the decision to receive or decline influenza vaccine: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: This cross-sectional questionnaire survey examined influenza vaccination among 430 student nurses. Only 12.2% (95% CI 9.1-15.3%) of student nurses received the seasonal vaccine regularly with 27.6% (95% CI 23.3-31.8%) ever having received seasonal or pandemic H1N1 vaccine. Intention to be vaccinated was associated with having previously been vaccinated (p<0.001) but not whether the vaccine was perceived as beneficial (p=0.36). Previous influenza illness was associated with having the influenza vaccine (p<0.001). The most frequently reported reason for receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine was being deemed at risk (42.4%) and for H1N1 vaccine was because it was offered for free (32.6%). For both vaccines the most reported reason for not being vaccinated was a perception of it not being needed. Student nurses form a substantial and influential part of the future healthcare workforce but to translate the widely held acceptance that influenza vaccine is beneficial into actual uptake, a more targeted and persuasive message is needed.
authors: Division of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. charlotte.j.hunt@alumni.nottingham.ac.uk
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Hunt
authors: Antony
authors: A
authors: Arthur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines