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Perceived susceptibility, benefits influenced parents' intent to vaccinate for influenza
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SAN DIEGO — Perceived susceptibility to influenza, benefits of vaccination and fewer side effects were most influential on a caregiver’s intent to have their child vaccinated, according to data presented here.
Jonathan Miller, MD, of Nemours Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del., and colleagues anonymously surveyed caregivers in the waiting room of an inner-city pediatric clinic on their understanding of influenza and their intent to vaccinate. Caregivers had a mean age of 33 years and 35% had completed college. Fifty-three percent of participants were black, 27.9% were Hispanic/Latino, 6.6% were white, 3.8% were Asian and 2.7% were other.
Jonathan Miller
Of 183 caregivers, 43% reported their child had already received influenza vaccine. Among those whose children had not already been vaccinated, 49% wanted the vaccine, 25% did not and 27% were uncertain.
Approximately 45.8% of participants identified influenza as a respiratory illness; 53.1% believed influenza was a respiratory and gastrointestinal disease and 1.1% believed influenza was primarily gastrointestinal.
Participants who had a greater perceived susceptibility to influenza (P<0.003) and a greater perceived efficacy of the influenza vaccine (P<0.0001) were more likely to vaccinate. Intent to vaccinate was negatively associated with perceived vaccine side effects (P<0.0001).
Perceived severity of influenza (P<0.92) and advertisements or doctor recommendations (P<0.23) were not associated with intent to vaccinate.
Perceptions that influenza vaccine was not mandatory (P<0.001) and general opposition to vaccines (P<0.001) were associated with intention not to vaccinate.
“We found that parents who really believe the influenza vaccine works and are not so worried about the side effects and think their child is susceptible to influenza tend to be most likely to vaccinate their child for influenza. Parents who don’t hold those beliefs are most likely to refuse the influenza vaccine,” Miller told Infectious Diseases in Children.
Another interesting finding, according to Miller, was that almost half of parents considered influenza to be a gastrointestinal disease.
“I think one of the key things is the susceptibility to influenza. There are influenza-related pediatric deaths annually. In 2013, the vast majority of those deaths, approximately 90%, were children who were unvaccinated,” study researcher Melissa Ruiz, MD, told Infectious Diseases in Children. “The perception that influenza is not a serious disease is something that I think, as health care providers, we need to be addressing on a regular basis.”
Melissa Ruiz
“As far as the future, we are hoping these findings help us tailor educational interventions to help educate parents that the influenza vaccine is essential for their children,” Miller said.
Ruiz added it is just as important to educate health care professionals on the significance of influenza vaccination. — by Amanda Oldt
For more information:
Miller J. #24058. Presented at: 2014 AAP National Conference and Exhibition; Oct. 11-14, San Diego.
Disclosure: Infectious Diseases in Children was unable to confirm financial disclosures.