| Summary: | Hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine has hindered its rapid uptake among the Hispanic and Latinx populations. The study aimed to use the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) for health behavior change to explain the intention of initiating and sustaining the behavior of COVID-19 vaccination among the Hispanic and Latinx populations that expressed and did not express hesitancy towards the vaccine in Nevada. Using a quantitative cross-sectional and survey-based research study design, data were collected using a 50-item questionnaire and analyzed using multiple linear regression modeling. Of 231 respondents, participatory dialogue (b = 0.113, <i>p</i> < 0.001; b = 0.072, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and behavioral confidence (b = 0.358, <i>p</i> < 0.001; b = 0.206, <i>p</i> < 0.001) displayed significant associations with the initiation of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among vaccine-hesitant and non-vaccine-hesitant individuals. Emotional transformation (b = 0.087, <i>p</i> < 0.001; b = 0.177, <i>p</i> < 0.001) displayed a significant association with the sustenance of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among vaccine-hesitant and non-vaccine-hesitant individuals. Results from this study provide evidence that the MTM is a useful tool in predicting COVID-19 vaccine acceptance behavior among Hispanics and Latinxs in Nevada, and it should be used in intervention designs and messaging to promote vaccine uptake.
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