When knowledge is not enough: changing behavior to change vaccination results

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2014;10(9):2623-4. doi: 10.4161/21645515.2014.970076. Epub 2014 Oct 30.

Abstract

Why don't health care workers universally embrace vaccination to prevent vaccine preventable diseases and protect themselves and their patients? To address this problem most vaccination campaigns focus on providing education and information to health care workers. While knowledge is a necessary first step, it is likely not sufficient to increase health care worker vaccine uptake. We discuss a novel approach to applying behavior change theories and principles as a framework to plan, guide, and evaluate vaccine promotion interventions, with the goal of enhancing vaccine coverage among health care workers.

Keywords: HCW, Health care worker; VPD, Vaccine Preventable Diseases; behavior change; health care workers; immunization; vaccine preventable diseases; vaccine promotion.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Health Personnel*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Occupational Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Vaccination / statistics & numerical data*
  • Virus Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Whooping Cough / prevention & control*