Abstract
Aims
To profile the characteristics of nurses with varying levels of vaccine hesitancy toward the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
Background
In many countries across the world, healthcare workers, and nurses in particular, display significant reluctance toward COVID-19 and influenza vaccines due to concerns about safety, distrust in healthcare policies, and media influences. To address this, a proposed approach involves profiling nurses to tailor vaccination campaigns and to improve acceptance rates and public health outcomes.
Methods
This cross-sectional study adopted the Vaccination Attitudes Examination scale to assess hesitancy toward COVID-19 and influenza vaccines among 294 registered nurses in the UK between March and July 2023. A K-means cluster analysis was performed. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were adopted.
Results
Three profiles were identified. Profile A showed low vaccination hesitancy, profile B showed average hesitancy, and profile C showed high hesitancy toward vaccines. The highest concern for all profiles was related to unforeseen future effects of vaccination. Profile C had more nurses in early career roles, whereas nurses in profiles A and B were in more senior roles. Profile A showed higher educational attainment. Nurses in profile C used Snapchat more, whereas nurses in profile A used Twitter more frequently.
Conclusion
This study identified specific characteristics associated with higher levels of vaccination hesitancy in nursing. Unforeseen future effects of vaccination are a core aspect to consider in promoting vaccination.
Implications for nursing and nursing policy
Policies and vaccination campaigns should be targeted on early career nurses and should deliver tailored messages to dispel misinformation about unforeseen future effects of vaccination through specific social media platforms. Senior nurses should be involved as role models in promoting vaccination. These results are key for enhancing an evidence-based approach to implementing global health policies in healthcare.
To profile the characteristics of nurses with varying levels of vaccine hesitancy toward the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
Background
In many countries across the world, healthcare workers, and nurses in particular, display significant reluctance toward COVID-19 and influenza vaccines due to concerns about safety, distrust in healthcare policies, and media influences. To address this, a proposed approach involves profiling nurses to tailor vaccination campaigns and to improve acceptance rates and public health outcomes.
Methods
This cross-sectional study adopted the Vaccination Attitudes Examination scale to assess hesitancy toward COVID-19 and influenza vaccines among 294 registered nurses in the UK between March and July 2023. A K-means cluster analysis was performed. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were adopted.
Results
Three profiles were identified. Profile A showed low vaccination hesitancy, profile B showed average hesitancy, and profile C showed high hesitancy toward vaccines. The highest concern for all profiles was related to unforeseen future effects of vaccination. Profile C had more nurses in early career roles, whereas nurses in profiles A and B were in more senior roles. Profile A showed higher educational attainment. Nurses in profile C used Snapchat more, whereas nurses in profile A used Twitter more frequently.
Conclusion
This study identified specific characteristics associated with higher levels of vaccination hesitancy in nursing. Unforeseen future effects of vaccination are a core aspect to consider in promoting vaccination.
Implications for nursing and nursing policy
Policies and vaccination campaigns should be targeted on early career nurses and should deliver tailored messages to dispel misinformation about unforeseen future effects of vaccination through specific social media platforms. Senior nurses should be involved as role models in promoting vaccination. These results are key for enhancing an evidence-based approach to implementing global health policies in healthcare.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e13035 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | International Nursing Review |
| Volume | 72 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 19 Aug 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2025 |
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Keywords
- COVID-19
- influenza
- machine learning
- nurses
- profiles
- vaccination campaigns
- vaccination hesitancy
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