title: Influenza Vaccine Uptake, Hand Hygiene Practices, and Perceived Barriers in Decision Making.
abstract: The annual costs of influenza are in the billions of dollars, with employers bearing substantial burdens. Yet, influenza vaccine uptake is sub-optimal. A random survey was administered to employees at a Midwestern public university using mixed quantitative and qualitative methods to identify the rate, characteristics, and barriers of self-reported flu vaccine uptake during March-April of 2012. The lowest uptake was among adults, ages 18 to 49 (29.8%), even though they are included in universal recommendations. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for demographic confounders showed an increase in self-identified protective hand hygiene behavior among those who reported influenza vaccine uptake compared with those who did not. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed contextual accounts of why vaccine uptake was declined including structural, perceptual, and knowledge barriers. Implementation and evaluation of novel multicomponent worksite vaccine interventions tailored to reach young and middle-aged employees including utilization of risk communication is needed to facilitate increased uptake.
authors.affiliation: 1 Kent State University.
authors.forename: Maggie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stedman-Smith
authors.affiliation: 1 Kent State University.
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kingsbury
authors.affiliation: 1 Kent State University.
authors.forename: Cathy L Z
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Michigan Medical School.
authors.forename: Scott F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Grey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000072758:Vaccination Refusal / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: employees; hand hygiene; influenza vaccine; risk communication; workplace