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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 166-173 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
| Volume | 66 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Feb 2024 |
Keywords
- COVID-19 vaccines
- New York City
- focus groups
- home health aides
- home health care
- qualitative research
- vaccination hesitancy