Factors Influencing Influenza Vaccination in a Rural Japanese Community
Author Information
Author(s): Matsui Daisuke, Shigeta Masako, Ozasa Kotaro, Kuriyama Nagato, Watanabe Isao, Watanabe Yoshiyuki
Primary Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
Hypothesis
The study aims to identify community-specific factors that affect attitudes toward influenza vaccination in a rural Japanese community.
Conclusion
Vaccination coverage can be increased by providing accurate information on personal risk, severity of influenza illness, and efficacy of vaccination from accessible sources.
Supporting Evidence
- Subjects who strongly agreed that the vaccine was effective were significantly more likely to be vaccinated.
- Elderly subjects who expressed concerns about adverse vaccine effects had a significantly lower vaccination rate.
- Information from medical facilities and town offices positively influenced vaccination rates among elderly individuals.
Takeaway
If people know more about how the flu vaccine works and where to get it, more of them will get vaccinated, especially older folks.
Methodology
An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 846 randomly chosen households in a rural town, exploring various factors associated with influenza vaccination.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to low response rate and the anonymous nature of the survey may have affected the results.
Limitations
The study had a low response rate of 44.4%, which may lead to selection bias, and it was conducted over two years, which may not be ideal for studying an epidemic.
Participant Demographics
The population included residents of a rural town in Kyoto, Japan, with a mix of age groups, including children, adults, and elderly individuals.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.027
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.17-15.1
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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