Premium
Older people and responses to COVID‐19: A cross‐sectional study of prevention practices and vaccination intention
Author(s) -
Wong Li Ping,
Alias Haridah,
Tan Yi Ru,
Tan Kit Mun
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international journal of older people nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.707
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1748-3743
pISSN - 1748-3735
DOI - 10.1111/opn.12436
Subject(s) - covid-19 , cross sectional study , vaccination , psychology , medicine , family medicine , virology , outbreak , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology
Abstract Background COVID‐19 is a threat to everyone's health and can be especially devastating to older individuals. Aim This study examined the behavioural prevention practices against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and the intention to vaccinate among older people when the COVID‐19 vaccine is on the verge of becoming available. Method A cross‐sectional, online survey was conducted between 14th July and 8th October 2020 among the older people in Malaysia. A questionnaire was designed to assess the practice towards measures preventing SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, and COVID‐19 vaccination attitudes and intention. Socio‐demographic characteristics, constructs of a health belief model (HBM), the 6‐item state version of the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI‐6) were correlates of the main outcomes. Findings The mean score of total preventive measures scores was 13.4 ± 1.7 out of a maximum score of 15, indicating very good prevention practices. By demographics, females, having a tertiary education exhibited higher prevention practices in the univariable analyses. Components of the HBM and being female remain significant correlates of higher prevention practices in multivariable logistic regression analysis (MLRA). A total of 657 (87.1%) participants responded and intend to receive the COVID‐19 vaccination. Provider recommendations may improve vaccination uptake (91.6%). MLRA revealed that having a positive vaccination attitude was 16 times more likely to accept the COVID‐19 vaccination (OR = 16.10; 95% CI 8.97–28.91). Hearing of someone they know who has COVID‐19 serves as a cue to action and significantly influences vaccination (OR = 4.25; 95% CI 1.80–10.03). Participants below 70 years old expressed higher vaccination intention (OR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.19–3.58). Conclusion The results provide the first evidence for public authorities to target older people vulnerable to compliance with recommended preventive measures against SARS‐CoV‐2 infections.