Background: Past research has focused on understanding influenza vaccine acceptance in non-Hispanic white populations; however, research on the social causes of influenza vaccine acceptance rates in Hispanic populations is slowly developing. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess theoretically driven predictors (i.e. attitudes, perceptions, behaviors, etc.) on influenza and the intention to vaccinate. Methods: A survey was administered to assess predictors of intentions to receive the influenza vaccine. The survey included items adapted from the National Flu Survey. Results: Key constructs common in models of health behaviors emerged as predictors of behavioral intentions to receive the flu vaccine. Recent vaccination within the past year ( P < 0.001), perceived effectiveness of the flu vaccine ( P < 0.004), and perceived safety of the flu vaccine ( P = 0.009) were predictors of intentions to vaccinate. Exploratory analyses revealed that government distrust was a statistically significant predictor of intentions to vaccinate ( P = 0.044). Conclusion: The above results have important implications for health-care providers and public health educators. The better we understand the relationship between theoretically driven predictors and vaccine behaviors, the more educators and health-care providers can focus on meaningful, culturally sensitive, targeted-vaccine education.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, and the prevalence rate of infections is approximately 79 million. Research investigating HPV vaccine acceptability has primarily focused on female populations. The current study investigates factors associated with HPV vaccine acceptability in an underrepresented population within the literature, Hispanic males. Ninety-seven male participants ( M age = 21.68 years; SD = 3.97) were recruited from a large urban university along the U.S./Mexico border to complete a 15- to 20-minute survey. More than half of the sample reported to have had a sexual experience within the past 12 months and a fifth of these participants reported that they never use protection such as condoms. Furthermore, about half of the sample reported that they did not receive the HPV vaccine or were unaware if they received the HPV vaccine. A strong correlation emerged between individual vaccine risk perceptions and family vaccine risk perceptions ( r = .82; p < .001). The following factors emerged as predictors of vaccine acceptability: having recommendations from health care providers, having a family with positive attitudes toward vaccines, and having a family that perceives less risks associated with vaccines. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Currently, in the United States, of 100 military service members needing behavioral health care it is estimated that around 50 would receive any care and only 30 to 50 would be provided "minimally adequate" care according to clinical, evidence-based standards. The current article discusses the existing gap between research and application and proposed reasons for this disparity. We briefly highlight existing research approaches developed by various disciplines (e.g., public health, psychology, social work) to address the research to application gap and provide example opportunities for the military's use of a community-based participatory approach. We also provide recommendations for a way forward to promote a research approach that utilizes both cuttingedge research methods and the richness of the applied expertise provided by military personnel. The recommended research approach aims to empower those individuals who provide or receive social, behavioral, or mental health services by creating an opportunity to shape the research from inception to implementation.
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