Applying the Diffusion of Innovations Theory to Understand COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Related Factors Among Two High-Risk Populations in Pennsylvania

Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has spread rapidly in the US with more than 100 million people getting COVID-19 and more than a million deaths since March 2020. Two high risk populations of concern regarding COVID-19 infection are tobacco users and health care workers (HCWs). Tobacco users are at risk of severe health outcomes from the SARS-CoV-2 virus since COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that affects the lungs. Similarly, HCWs are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 through interaction with the general public (especially COVID-19 patients) on a daily basis. Although 79% of the US population ≥ 18 years of age have completed the primary COVID-19 vaccine series, it is imperative to understand the factors associated with receiving or declining the COVID-19 vaccine among these high-risk populations to improve vaccination rates in people who need it most. This study aimed at understanding the factors related to COVID-19 vaccination and its impact on COVID-19 vaccine uptake in tobacco users and HCWs by use of the diffusion of innovations (DOI) theory and the increasing vaccination model. Methods This integrated doctoral research used survey data collection to identify the factors related to COVID-19 vaccination and understand COVID-19 vaccine uptake patterns in tobacco users and HCWs. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the population and logistic regression models assessed correlates of vaccination. a. The first study surveyed a sample of Pennsylvanian adult tobacco users by emailing a unique survey link to 4,081 email addresses from April to July 2022. Participants were at least 21 years of age and were asked about tobacco use, COVID-19 vaccination status, reasons for receiving/declining the COVID-19 vaccine, and trust in people to advise them about the COVID-19 vaccine. b. The second study surveyed a sample of Pennsylvanian HCWs by emailing a link to participants from August 2022 to February 2023. Participants were at least 21 years of age and were asked about providing direct patient care, reasons for receiving/declining the COVID-19 vaccine, and trust in people to advise them about the COVID-19 vaccine. Results For the tobacco user study, nearly 78% (n=119) received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. We categorized vaccinated tobacco users into adopter categories of the DOI theory as innovators (10%), early adopters (14%), early majority (33%), late majority (11%), and laggards (32%). The major reason that prompted participants to get the COVID-19 vaccine were to protect them against COVID-19 infection (77%). From the 22% (n=35) that did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the major reason they declined the vaccine was because they felt politics played a big role in the vaccine development process (94%). For the HCW study, 93% (n=3245) reported receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. From the 3245 participants, we categorized vaccinated HCWs into the adopter categories of the DOI theory: innovators (56%), early adopters (9%), early majority (11%), late majority (7%), and laggards (17%).The major reason that prompted participants to get the COVID-19 vaccine were to protect them against COVID-19 infection (78%). From the 7% (n=245) that did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the major reason they declined the vaccine was because they were worried about possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (78%). Conclusion Understanding factors that influence high-risk individuals like tobacco users and HCWs to receive or decline the COVID-19 vaccine is crucial to increasing future vaccination in these populations. This is especially true since boosters have been introduced and there is potential for future guidelines to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine annually. Factors such as protection from the COVID-19 infection, politics, and vaccine side effects can affect tobacco users and HCWs decisions to receive or decline the vaccine. Using the DOI theory, researchers can apply this concept to booster vaccines and similar vaccinations to understand motivations in receiving or declining vaccines. Public health professionals can also use this information to develop more targeted interventions in the future to improve vaccine uptake and ultimately decrease mortality in high-risk populations.

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Work Title Applying the Diffusion of Innovations Theory to Understand COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Related Factors Among Two High-Risk Populations in Pennsylvania
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Penn State
Creators
  1. Gail D'Souza
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Dissertation
Publication Date August 7, 2023
Deposited August 07, 2023

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    Publication Date
    • 2023-08-07
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    Work Title
    • APPLYING THE DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS THEORY TO UNDERSTAND COVID-19 VACCINE UPTAKE AND RELATED FACTORS AMONG TWO HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA
    • Applying the Diffusion of Innovations Theory to Understand COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Related Factors Among Two High-Risk Populations in Pennsylvania
    Description
    • Background
    • The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has spread rapidly in the US with more than 100 million people getting COVID-19 and more than a million deaths since March 2020. Two high risk populations of concern regarding COVID-19 infection are tobacco users and health care workers (HCWs). Tobacco users are at risk of severe health outcomes from the SARS-CoV-2 virus since COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that affects the lungs. Similarly, HCWs are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 through interaction with the general public (especially COVID-19 patients) on a daily basis. Although 79% of the US population ≥ 18 years of age have completed the primary COVID-19 vaccine series, it is imperative to understand the factors associated with receiving or declining the COVID-19 vaccine among these high-risk populations to improve vaccination rates in people who need it most. This study aimed at understanding the factors related to COVID-19 vaccination and its impact on COVID-19 vaccine uptake in tobacco users and HCWs by use of the diffusion of innovations (DOI) theory and the increasing vaccination model.
    • Methods
    • This integrated doctoral research used survey data collection to identify the factors related to COVID-19 vaccination and understand COVID-19 vaccine uptake patterns in tobacco users and HCWs. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the population and logistic regression models assessed correlates of vaccination.
    • a. The first study surveyed a sample of Pennsylvanian adult tobacco users by emailing a unique survey link to 4,081 email addresses from April to July 2022. Participants were at least 21 years of age and were asked about tobacco use, COVID-19 vaccination status, reasons for receiving/declining the COVID-19 vaccine, and trust in people to advise them about the COVID-19 vaccine.
    • b. The second study surveyed a sample of Pennsylvanian HCWs by emailing a link to participants from August 2022 to February 2023. Participants were at least 21 years of age and were asked about providing direct patient care, reasons for receiving/declining the COVID-19 vaccine, and trust in people to advise them about the COVID-19 vaccine.
    • Results
    • For the tobacco user study, nearly 78% (n=119) received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. We categorized vaccinated tobacco users into adopter categories of the DOI theory as innovators (10%), early adopters (14%), early majority (33%), late majority (11%), and laggards (32%). The major reason that prompted participants to get the COVID-19 vaccine were to protect them against COVID-19 infection (77%). From the 22% (n=35) that did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the major reason they declined the vaccine was because they felt politics played a big role in the vaccine development process (94%).
    • For the HCW study, 93% (n=3245) reported receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. From the 3245 participants, we categorized vaccinated HCWs into the adopter categories of the DOI theory: innovators (56%), early adopters (9%), early majority (11%), late majority (7%), and laggards (17%).The major reason that prompted participants to get the COVID-19 vaccine were to protect them against COVID-19 infection (78%). From the 7% (n=245) that did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the major reason they declined the vaccine was because they were worried about possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (78%).
    • Conclusion
    • Understanding factors that influence high-risk individuals like tobacco users and HCWs to receive or decline the COVID-19 vaccine is crucial to increasing future vaccination in these populations. This is especially true since boosters have been introduced and there is potential for future guidelines to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine annually. Factors such as protection from the COVID-19 infection, politics, and vaccine side effects can affect tobacco users and HCWs decisions to receive or decline the vaccine. Using the DOI theory, researchers can apply this concept to booster vaccines and similar vaccinations to understand motivations in receiving or declining vaccines. Public health professionals can also use this information to develop more targeted interventions in the future to improve vaccine uptake and ultimately decrease mortality in high-risk populations.
    • For the HCW study, 93% (n=3245) reported receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. From the 3245 participants, we categorized vaccinated HCWs into the adopter categories of the DOI theory: innovators (56%), early adopters (9%), early majority (11%), late majority (7%), and laggards (17%).The major reason that prompted participants to get the COVID-19 vaccine were to protect them against COVID-19 infection (78%). From the 7% (n=245) that did not receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the major reason they declined the vaccine was because they were worried about possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (78%).
    • Conclusion Understanding factors that influence high-risk individuals like tobacco users and HCWs to receive or decline the COVID-19 vaccine is crucial to increasing future vaccination in these populations. This is especially true since boosters have been introduced and there is potential for future guidelines to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine annually. Factors such as protection from the COVID-19 infection, politics, and vaccine side effects can affect tobacco users and HCWs decisions to receive or decline the vaccine. Using the DOI theory, researchers can apply this concept to booster vaccines and similar vaccinations to understand motivations in receiving or declining vaccines. Public health professionals can also use this information to develop more targeted interventions in the future to improve vaccine uptake and ultimately decrease mortality in high-risk populations.
  • Updated