Practice, Beliefs and Intent in Influenza vaccination among Hispanic Patients during the Pandemic: An Interventional Study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Keywords

Vaccine, Clinical epidemiology, Influenza, Health equity, Racial and ethnic disparities

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127207

Abstract

Background

The largest minority in the United States, Hispanic populations are also one of the least vaccinated groups. Promoting vaccine confidence and uptake among Hispanics is critical to reducing health inequalities.

Methods

We investigated the effectiveness of an intervention that combined a bilingual flu vaccine brochure plus culturally tailored, primary care physician (PCP) led influenza vaccination Question and Answer (Q&A) videos. We measured patients' vaccination attitudes/beliefs, practices, and intentions.

Results

In total, 693 Hispanic patients participated in the baseline survey and 199 took the follow-up survey. At baseline, 32.7 % did not get the flu vaccine in the previous flu season. Disagreement of or feeling unsure about the statement “vaccines are a good thing” was 20.2 %. Univariate analysis showed that lower household income was negatively associated with patients' flu vaccine uptake (55.7 % with < $75,000 household income vs. 66.7 % with $75,000 or above, p = 0.04). After the intervention, 78.4 % agreed or strongly agreed that they would get the flu vaccine, compared to 50.3 % at baseline. Also, 87.4 % of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that “vaccines are a good thing” and 39.6 % have improved vaccine beliefs. Of all who didn't get a flu vaccine, 54.5 % agreed or strongly agreed to get one in the next season; and of those who didn't get a COVID vaccine at baseline, 38.5 % would like to get a flu vaccine in the future. Regarding positive changes on flu vaccination intent, the intervention worked the best among those who had never graduated high schools (Odds Ratio (OR) = 16.72, 95 %CI: 2.44–114.71, p = 0.004) and those whose beliefs in vaccines increased following the intervention (OR = 3.57, 95 %CI: 1.03–12.38, p = 0.045).

Conclusions

A low-cost physician-led, culturally tailored, bilingual, and low-cost intervention improved Hispanic patients' positive vaccine beliefs and intent to be vaccinated.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Vaccine, v. 58, art. 127207

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