Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Trust in Home Health Workers in New York City: A Pilot Study.
J Occup Environ Med 2024;
66:166-173. [PMID:
38037263 DOI:
10.1097/jom.0000000000003019]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to identify characteristics surrounding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and trust in home health workers (HHWs) in New York City.
METHODS
Data were collected from HHWs through focus group sessions conducted via Zoom. We developed a facilitator guide using the 5C Scale, a validated psychometric tool for assessing vaccine hesitancy. We performed qualitative thematic analysis using a combined inductive and deductive approach.
RESULTS
Major themes that emerged included the following: conflicting information decreased vaccine confidence; individualized outreach is valued when information gathering; mandates and financial incentives may increase skepticism; low health literacy and conflict in personal relationships are barriers to acceptance; and experiencing a severe infection and fear of exposure at work increase acceptance.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on our study, personalized yet consistent messaging may be key to reaching hesitant HHWs.
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