Predicting intention to uptake H1N1 influenza vaccine in a university sample

Global pandemic H1N1 has been associated with high symptom severity among young adults. The present research sought to examine factors affecting the uptake of the H1N1 vaccine using the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as a framework during a period of time when the virus was classified by the WHO as being in the pandemic phase.
Method:
A sample of 201 university students completed a questionnaire battery comprised of health, belief/attitudes, and behavioural intention measures.
Findings:
63.5% of respondents indicated intention to be immunised. Logistic regression was performed with intention to vaccinate (yes/no) as criterion and only attitudes (Wald=16.6, p<0.00051.89) and barriers (Wald=7.68, p<0.01), emerged as significant predictors of intention to vaccinate.
Discussion:
The implication for health practitioners is that behavioural intent may be open to influence where psycho-education can create pro-vaccine attitudes and beliefs.