Abstract

The influenza virus requires vaccination for the world to have some control of the spread of the disease. People who inject drugs are just as likely to reject the influenza vaccine as the rest of the population but are at higher risk for complications from the virus (Lunan, 2020). The purpose of this study was to determine if an educational intervention would decrease vaccine hesitancy in PWID. The sample was from a population of people who inject drugs using a syringe exchange program located in Tennessee. The data were collected from December 2020 through February 2021 (n=310). The study method consisted of a pre- and post-intervention survey in which participants answered questions and told their personal views about the flu vaccine. Educational visual aids were made based on the participants' responses and used to help educate participants about the influenza vaccine before the post-intervention survey. The principal findings showed that individuals educated about the flu vaccine were less likely to see the influenza vaccine, as necessary. Findings showed a decrease of influenza vaccine interest after the educational intervention (52.5% to 36.6%) after the educational intervention. This research concluded that a single educational intervention is not enough to overcome participants' personal beliefs about vaccines. As vaccine hesitancy grows, providers must find and use ways to ensure individuals can overcome this hesitancy to ensure uptake of the vaccines.

Notes

This paper is based on David Migrandasa Arnopole's DNP project. Please see "Vaccine hesitancy in people who inject drugs:" https://www.sigmarepository.org/dnps/118/ for the original project.

Author Details

David Migrandasa Arnopole, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, DNP and Louann O'Dell, DNP

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Lead Author Affiliation

King University, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Type

Article

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Vaccine Hesitancy, Influenza Vaccine, Educational Intervention

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Review Type

None: Submitted for Open Dissemination

Acquisition

Self-submission

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