The intention to get vaccinated against influenza and actual vaccination uptake of Dutch healthcare personnel

Highlights

• Influenza vaccination uptake of healthcare personnel is low in Europe.

• Positive attitudes predict a high intention to receive influenza vaccination.

• Attitude mediates the effect of personal responsibility on intention to vaccinate.

• Intention to get vaccinated against influenza is a good predictor of immunization.

• Indecisive healthcare personnel are a promising group for vaccination campaigns.

Abstract

Health Authorities recommend annual vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP) against influenza to protect vulnerable patients. Nevertheless, vaccination rates have been low among European HCP. Here we report on a longitudinal survey study to identify social cognitive predictors of the motivation to obtain influenza vaccination, and to test whether intention is a good predictor of actual vaccination behaviour. Dutch HCP (N = 1370) were invited to participate in a survey (baseline). To link intention to behaviour, participants who completed the first survey (N = 556) were sent a second survey after vaccinations were offered (follow-up). Multinominal regression analysis showed that HCP with a positive attitude and a higher frequency of past vaccinations were more likely to have a high intention to get vaccinated. A negative attitude, high feelings of autonomy in the decision whether to get vaccinated, a preference of inaction over vaccination, a lesser sense of personal responsibility, and high self-protection motives increased the probability of no intention to get vaccinated. Social cognitive predictors were identified that explain the intention to get vaccinated against influenza of HCP, which in turn proved to be a good predictor of behaviour. Future interventions should focus on these variables to increase vaccination coverage rates.