ปัจจัยทำนายความตั้งใจในการฉีดวัคซีนโควิด-19 ของผู้สูงอายุ ที่ยังไม่เคยฉีดวัคซีนในภาคเหนือของประเทศไทย

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global outbreak affecting people around the world. COVID-19 vaccines are a significant tool to provide disease protection and reduce serious illness and death rates. Using the Health Belief Model as a theoretical framework, this study aimed to 1) determine COVID-19 vaccination intention, and 2) identify factors predicting COVID-19 vaccination intention among unvaccinated older adults. Independent variables included perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, perceived seriousness of COVID-19, perceived benefits of COVID-19 vaccines, perceived barriers to COVID-19 vaccination, received recommendations from health care providers, and knowledge about COVID-19. Participants were 120 unvaccinated older adults living in Chondaen district, Phetchabun province, who were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling approaches during December 2022 to February 2023. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results demonstrated that: 1. The mean intention score of unvaccinated older adults was 3.57 (S.D. = 3.18), ranging from 0 to 10. 2. Increased perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 was significantly associated with an increased possibility of COVID-19 vaccination intention among older adults (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.02-2.13). 3. Increased perceived benefits of COVID-19 vaccines was significantly associated with an increase in the likelihood of COVID-19 vaccination intention among older adults (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.01-1.77). Findings from this study provide basic information and direction for nurses and health care providers in designing health services to promote the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated older adults in order to reduce severe illness and deaths.