Some factors affecting the decision on non-mandatory vaccination in an influenza pandemic: comparison of pandemic (H1N1) and seasonal influenza vaccination

Some factors affecting the decision on non-mandatory vaccination in an influenza pandemic: comparison of pandemic (H1N1) and seasonal influenza vaccination Background: The 2009 influenza pandemic caused by the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus was accompanied by a debate about whether or not to be vaccinated. The percentage of people who decided to be vaccinated was lower than in the case of seasonal influenza vaccination. We therefore compared factors influencing the decision on pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccination. Method: Slovene inhabitants aged 18 and over (N=1383) completed an internet based survey on socio-demographic and health behaviour-related characteristics, personality traits, and characteristics of decision-making. Two stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed, one with an uptake of the pandemic influenza vaccine and the other with an uptake of the seasonal influenza vaccine as a dependent variable. Results: In addition to common predictors of a decision in favour of the two vaccinations (age, gender, chronic illnesses, working in healthcare, trust in media news and vaccination side-effects in someone close), deciding in favour of vaccination against the pandemic virus was related to living with children and thoroughness in decision-making. It was also related to being vaccinated against seasonal influenza, trust in pandemic vaccine safety and professional information in favour of vaccination, and the decision of someone close. Conclusions: In the face of the pandemic threat and lack of information, people behaved as they had in previous similar situations and according to the behaviour of people close to them and information from trusted sources. Concern for children and decision-making characteristics also became important. These factors should be considered in future crisis interventions. Nekateri Dejavniki Odločanja za Prostovoljno Cepljenje V Primeru Pandemije Gripe: Primerjava Cepljenja Proti Pandemski GRIPI (H1N1) in Sezonski Gripi Izhodišče: Pandemijo gripe, ki jo je v letu 2009 povzročil virus influence A (H1N1), so spremljale polemike o tem, ali se je smiselno cepiti ali ne. Delež oseb, ki so se odločile za cepljenje, je bil nižji kot v primeru cepljenja proti sezonski gripi. Zato smo želeli dejavnike, ki so vplivali na odločitev za cepljenje proti pandemski gripi, primerjati z dejavniki, ki vplivajo na odločitev za cepljenje proti sezonski gripi. Metoda: Polnoletni Slovenci (N=1383) so na spletnem vprašalniku poročali o svojih socialno-demografskih lastnostih in z zdravjem povezanih vedenjih, osebnostnih potezah in značilnostih odločanja. Izvedli smo dve logistični regresiji, pri čemer je v prvi odvisno spremenljivko predstavljala odločitev o cepljenju proti pandemski gripi, v drugi pa odločitev glede cepljenja proti sezonski gripi. Rezultati: Poleg skupnih napovednikov, ki vplivajo na odločitev za obe cepljenji (starost, spol, kronične bolezni, zaposlitev v zdravstvu, zaupanje medijem in pojav morebitnih stranskih učinkov po nekem cepljenju pri bližnji osebi) je bilo cepljenje proti pandemski gripi povezano tudi s tem, ali posameznik živi z otroki ali ne, z njegovo temeljitostjo pri odločanju, z odločitvijo za cepljenje proti sezonski gripi, zaupanjem v varnost cepiva proti pandemski gripi in v strokovne informacije v prid cepljenju ter s podobno odločitvijo bližnje osebe. Zaključki: V primeru grozeče pandemije in pomanjkljivih informacij se ljudje obnašajo v skladu s svojim vedenjem v preteklosti in z vedenjem bližnjih oseb ter v skladu z informacijami iz virov, ki jim zaupajo. Pomembna dejavnika, ki vplivata na odločitev o cepljenju, postaneta tudi skrb za otroke in temeljitost odločanja. Vse naštete dejavnike bi morali upoštevati pri načrtovanju kriznih ukepov v prihodnosti.