Factors influencing Australian nursing and midwifery students COVID-19 vaccination intentions
Background: Vaccination for COVID-19 has become a cornerstone management plan for many countries. Australian state governments made vaccinations mandatory for all healthcare workers. Despite evidence on the important role vaccines hold in preventing or decreasing serious disease, there have been man...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Vaccine: X |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590136223000931 |
| _version_ | 1827875667468877824 |
|---|---|
| author | Abigail Ford Penny Heidke Chanchal Kurup Lisa Wirihana Jeremy Kroll Pauline Calleja |
| author_facet | Abigail Ford Penny Heidke Chanchal Kurup Lisa Wirihana Jeremy Kroll Pauline Calleja |
| author_sort | Abigail Ford |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Vaccination for COVID-19 has become a cornerstone management plan for many countries. Australian state governments made vaccinations mandatory for all healthcare workers. Despite evidence on the important role vaccines hold in preventing or decreasing serious disease, there have been many nurses and midwives who have demonstrated vaccine hesitancy. This hesitancy has also been present in undergraduate nursing and midwifery students. The aim of this study was to explore factors influencing Australian nursing and midwifery students' intentions towards receiving the COVID-19 vaccine; identify the barriers and facilitators to obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine; and understand students' perceptions of mandating the COVID-19 vaccine and identify any impact on their studies.. Methods: Cross-sectional mixed method study utilising an online survey platform. Data were analysed using binomial and multinomial logistic regression through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. A content analysis was completed for the qualitative data. Results: There were 715 participants and 556 who completed the survey in full. Nurses made up the majority of participants (n = 409), 133 participants were midwives and 30 were in dual nursing/midwifery programs. Education and communication were identified as two major factors that facilitate vaccine acceptance. Conclusions: Vaccines are integral in the prevention of contracting COVID-19 or reducing the severity of the symptoms. However, many nursing and midwifery students have shown reluctance towards getting vaccinated. The mandate to be vaccinated to attend clinical placement has led to the inability of some students to complete their course. The findings from this study are valuable in informing the future COVID-19 vaccination strategies and improving vaccine acceptance. COVID-19 remains a global health risk and therefore further research is needed of vaccine acceptance amongst the future health workforces. It is crucial knowledge for policy makers and healthcare services as they plan for any future pandemics and implement Australia's national vaccine strategy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:11:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5ba460b090b74c1a850fbc383aa30854 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-1362 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:11:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccine: X |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ba460b090b74c1a850fbc383aa308542023-08-06T04:38:19ZengElsevierVaccine: X2590-13622023-08-0114100352Factors influencing Australian nursing and midwifery students COVID-19 vaccination intentionsAbigail Ford0Penny Heidke1Chanchal Kurup2Lisa Wirihana3Jeremy Kroll4Pauline Calleja5School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; Corresponding author.School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, AustraliaSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, AustraliaSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, AustraliaSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; Motivation of Health Behaviours Lab, Appleton Institute, CQUniversity Psychology Wellness Centre, 554-700 Yaamba Road, Norman Gardens, 4701, Building 32/Lower Ground 32, AustraliaSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, AustraliaBackground: Vaccination for COVID-19 has become a cornerstone management plan for many countries. Australian state governments made vaccinations mandatory for all healthcare workers. Despite evidence on the important role vaccines hold in preventing or decreasing serious disease, there have been many nurses and midwives who have demonstrated vaccine hesitancy. This hesitancy has also been present in undergraduate nursing and midwifery students. The aim of this study was to explore factors influencing Australian nursing and midwifery students' intentions towards receiving the COVID-19 vaccine; identify the barriers and facilitators to obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine; and understand students' perceptions of mandating the COVID-19 vaccine and identify any impact on their studies.. Methods: Cross-sectional mixed method study utilising an online survey platform. Data were analysed using binomial and multinomial logistic regression through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. A content analysis was completed for the qualitative data. Results: There were 715 participants and 556 who completed the survey in full. Nurses made up the majority of participants (n = 409), 133 participants were midwives and 30 were in dual nursing/midwifery programs. Education and communication were identified as two major factors that facilitate vaccine acceptance. Conclusions: Vaccines are integral in the prevention of contracting COVID-19 or reducing the severity of the symptoms. However, many nursing and midwifery students have shown reluctance towards getting vaccinated. The mandate to be vaccinated to attend clinical placement has led to the inability of some students to complete their course. The findings from this study are valuable in informing the future COVID-19 vaccination strategies and improving vaccine acceptance. COVID-19 remains a global health risk and therefore further research is needed of vaccine acceptance amongst the future health workforces. It is crucial knowledge for policy makers and healthcare services as they plan for any future pandemics and implement Australia's national vaccine strategy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590136223000931COVID-19 vaccinationNursesMidwivesUndergraduate studentVaccination sentimentVaccine hesitancy |
| spellingShingle | Abigail Ford Penny Heidke Chanchal Kurup Lisa Wirihana Jeremy Kroll Pauline Calleja Factors influencing Australian nursing and midwifery students COVID-19 vaccination intentions Vaccine: X COVID-19 vaccination Nurses Midwives Undergraduate student Vaccination sentiment Vaccine hesitancy |
| title | Factors influencing Australian nursing and midwifery students COVID-19 vaccination intentions |
| title_full | Factors influencing Australian nursing and midwifery students COVID-19 vaccination intentions |
| title_fullStr | Factors influencing Australian nursing and midwifery students COVID-19 vaccination intentions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors influencing Australian nursing and midwifery students COVID-19 vaccination intentions |
| title_short | Factors influencing Australian nursing and midwifery students COVID-19 vaccination intentions |
| title_sort | factors influencing australian nursing and midwifery students covid 19 vaccination intentions |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccination Nurses Midwives Undergraduate student Vaccination sentiment Vaccine hesitancy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590136223000931 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT abigailford factorsinfluencingaustraliannursingandmidwiferystudentscovid19vaccinationintentions AT pennyheidke factorsinfluencingaustraliannursingandmidwiferystudentscovid19vaccinationintentions AT chanchalkurup factorsinfluencingaustraliannursingandmidwiferystudentscovid19vaccinationintentions AT lisawirihana factorsinfluencingaustraliannursingandmidwiferystudentscovid19vaccinationintentions AT jeremykroll factorsinfluencingaustraliannursingandmidwiferystudentscovid19vaccinationintentions AT paulinecalleja factorsinfluencingaustraliannursingandmidwiferystudentscovid19vaccinationintentions |