Related Factors Influencing Influenza Vaccination Uptake in Elderly People

• Main Authors: Li Ling Liu, 劉麗玲
• Other Authors: Y. F. Tsai
• Format: Others
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/13231641973064448342

碩士 === 長庚大學 === 護理學研究所 === 97 === The purpose of this study was, based on the Health Belief Model, to examine the predictors of immunizing influenza vaccination among elderly. A cross-sectional research design was used. A convenience sample of elderly persons was recruited from outpatient clinics of two hospitals in northern Taiwan. Data were collecting through structured questionnaires. The total of 1,144 elderly completed the survey with an 87.39% completion rate. The majority of participants were male (54.5%). The average age was 73.1 years old. The largest group was educated to primary school level. Most elderly (84.9%) suffered from one or more chronic diseases. Hypertension (52.0%) was ranked as the most prevalent chronic disease. Most of them (91.2%) have been received the messages about influenza vaccination. Among the participants, 61.3% had immunized the influenza vaccination in 2007. The average scores of self-perceived susceptibility and seriousness to influenza were 22.01 and 29.05, respectively. In addition, the average scores of perceived benefits and barriers of preventive action with influenza vaccination were 17.18 and 79.38, respectively. The average knowledge scores of influenza were 6.91, indicating the overall rate of correct answers was relative low (44.38%). Several differences were found between the receivers and non-receivers in the distributions of age (χ2＝34.79, p＜.01), origin (χ2＝22.33, p＜.01), religion (χ2＝13.26, p＜.05), the availability of influenza vaccination over the past year (χ2＝517.64, p＜.01), and the availability of receiving messages about influenza vaccination (χ2＝148.12, p＜.01). In addition, significant differences were found in their self-perceived seriousness of influenza (t＝5.83, p＜.01), perceived benefits of preventive action with influenza vaccination (t＝17.38, p＜.01), perceived barriers to preventive action (t＝13.41, p＜.01), and knowledge about influenza (t = 8.47, p＜.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR＝1.07, p＜.01), occupation (OR＝4.20, p＜.05), average personal monthly income (OR＝2.18, p＜.01), perceived susceptibility to influenza (OR＝1.08, p＜.05), perceived benefits of preventive action with influenza vaccination (OR＝1.36, p＜.01), perceived barriers to preventive action (OR＝1.07, p＜.01), and the availability of receiving messages about influenza vaccination (OR＝22.75, p＜.01) were the significant predictors of immunizing influenza vaccination among the elderly. Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to provide messages about influenza vaccination for the elderly. In addition, it is also important to enforce their awareness of influenza, to clarify the effectiveness of influenza vaccination, to promote the convenience of vaccination, and then to increase their immunizing behaviors.