COVID-19 prevention in healthcare workers through vaccination: acceptance, process evaluation and best practice concepts

Zhelyazkova, Ana (2024): COVID-19 prevention in healthcare workers through vaccination: acceptance, process evaluation and best practice concepts. Dissertation, LMU München: Medizinische Fakultät

Abstract

The presented analyses within the frames of this thesis provide detailed evidence into the arguments and background of the decision-making process of HCWs towards accepting, refusing or delaying a COVID-19 vaccine. While the perceived benefits of receiving an inoculation as well as the as low perceived barriers to the measure were positively associated with vaccination intent, comparatively lower perception of COVID-19 susceptibility and severity were linked to undecidedness or negation of a vaccine. Specifically, the analyses on the cues to action demonstrated how a feeling of being ill-informed on the topic of COVID-19 vaccines and their safety was associated with refusing or being undecided on an inoculation, where this perception was directly linked to low information consumption from official sources and low levels of interaction with other HCWs, while the targeted consumption of vaccine-specific information facilitated vaccine uptake. Beyond the immediate scope of COVID-19, factors positively linked to vaccination intent where a generally approving attitude towards vaccines as well as having been vaccinated against influenza in the past season. The observation of the association between the acceptance of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical measures revealed that COVID-19 vaccine acceptance is associated with an approving attitude towards non-pharmaceutical interventions. These results provide detailed evidence for the reasoning, attitude, and behaviour towards a COVID-19 vaccine as a preventive measure. Considering the memory-based information processing in vaccine-related decision-making and its potential impact on future COVID-19 or non-COVID-19-related inoculations, the further analyses presented here demonstrate a positive association between perceived inaccessibility of the vaccination centre, self-reported AEFIs and comparatively lower satisfaction with the process. Taken together, these outcomes outline a strategic framework for empirical recommendations on the occupational health promotion in health facilities with a focus on targeted communication using tools and measures from the field of infodemic management. Furthermore, the observed associations pose a theoretical and empirical inquiry into the interrelated juxtaposition between self-reported unsatisfactory vaccine-related experiences and future vaccine-related decision-making processes, where this research question may also be examined beyond the immediate context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Dokumententyp: Dissertationen (Dissertation, LMU München)
• Keywords: COVID-19, Vaccines, Healthcare Workers, Occupational Health
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften ; 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• Fakultäten: Medizinische Fakultät
• Sprache der Hochschulschrift: Englisch
• Datum der mündlichen Prüfung: 17. Juni 2024
• 1. Bericht­erstatter:in: Adorjan, Kristina