Table 1.
Survey measures
| Variable | Type of scale and number of items | Cronbach’s alpha | Question | Response categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent variables | ||||
| Hesitancy about recommended vaccines48 | 1 | - | If your doctor recommends a vaccine for you, do you usually get it? | No, I don’t take any vaccines (1) – Yes, always (3) |
| Importance of doctor recommendation of influenza vaccine | 1 | - | How important are the following in determining whether or not you get a flu vaccination: What my healthcare provider recommends? | Not at all important (1) – Extremely important (4) |
| Hesitancy on intent to get recommended vaccines | 1 | - | For any of these vaccines that you haven’t taken, if your doctor recommended it for you tomorrow, how likely would you be to get it? | Not at all likely (1) – Certain I would (4) |
| Trust in doctor | 1 | - | How much do you trust your own personal doctor when it comes to flu vaccines? | Not at all (1) –Completely (5) |
| Trust in Influenza vaccine | 1 | - | Overall, how much do you trust the flu vaccine? | Not at all (1) – Completely (5) |
| Trust in vaccines | 1 | - | In general, how much do you trust vaccines? | Not at all (1) –Completely (5) |
| Vaccine hesitancy | 1 | - | Overall, how hesitant are you | Not at all hesitant (1) –about getting Very hesitant vaccinations? (4) |
| Influenza knowledge | Count of # truefalse statements correct (7) | - | 1. The flu vaccine helps stimulate a natural immune response? 2. A flu vaccine will protect you from the flu for many years? 3. The flu vaccine does not include all the types of flu circulating in the US this year? 4. Flu vaccines must be tested and approved every year? 5. Flu vaccines change every year because the type of flu virus change all the time? 6. Even if the flu vaccine does not contain all types of virus going around, it can still help reduce the seriousness and length of time I am sick if I get the flu? 7. The flu vaccine this year is less effective than most years? |
True or false |
| Knowledge of influenza vaccine recommendations (children under 18 years old) | Count of # correct statements (3) | - | Based on what you have heard, which of the following groups should get a flu vaccination? | Have not heard/Not sure (0) – Should get the vaccine (1) |
| Knowledge of influenza vaccine recommendations (adults over 18 years old) | 1 | - | Based on what you have heard, which of the following groups should get a flu vaccination? | Should get the vaccine (1) – Have not heard/Not sure (3) |
| Risk of disease | Mean of 4 items | 0.836 | 1. How likely are you to get the flu? 2. How severe do you think the flu would be? 3. How much would you worry about the flu? 4. How much regret do you think you would feel if you did get the flu? |
Not at all (0) –A great deal (3) |
| Vaccine risk | Mean of 4 items | 0.842 | 1. How likely are you to have side effects of the vaccine? 2. How severe do you think the side effects would be? 3. How much would you worry about side effects? 4. How much regret do you think you would feel if you did have side effects? |
Not at all (0) –A great deal (3) |
| Influenza vaccine complacency (necessity and importance) | Mean of 2 items | 0.918 | 1. Thinking specifically about the flu vaccine, do you think the flu vaccine is necessary? 2. Thinking specifically about the flu vaccine, do you think the flu vaccine is important? |
Not at all (1) –Very much (4) |
| Influenza vaccine confidence (safety and effectiveness) | Mean of 2 items | 0.875 | 1. Thinking specifically about the flu vaccine, do you think the flu vaccine is safe? 2. Thinking specifically about the flu vaccine, do you think the flu vaccine is effective? |
Not at all (1) –Very much (4) |
| Influenza vaccine convenience (affordability and convenience) | Mean of 2 items | 0.598 | 1. Thinking specifically about the flu vaccine, do you think the flu vaccine is convenient? 2. Thinking specifically about the flu vaccine, do you think the flu vaccine is affordable? |
Not at all (1) –Very much (4) |
| Parental vaccination status | 1 | - | Did you get a flu vaccine this season? | No or Yes (0 or 1) |
| Outcome variable | ||||
| Children vaccination status | 1 | - | Did you get some, all, or none of your kids vaccinated for flu this season? | No or Yes all/some (0 or 1) |