Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108311

Wilhelmina Ross, PA¹, Ricardo J. Wray, PhD², Thearis Osuji³, Keri Jupka, MPH², Amanda Whitworth², and Delores Dotson¹. (1) Health Communication Research Laboratory, Saint Louis Unversity, 3545 Lafayette Street, Saint Louis, MO 63104, 314-977-4493, Rosswk@slu.edu, (2) Health Communication Research Laboratory, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104, (3) Health Communication Research Laboratory, School of Public Health, Saint Louis Unversity, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104

As part of a Centers of Disease Control and Prevention funded health communication study, ten semi-structured key informant interviews were used to investigate strategies used by healthcare professionals to promote influenza vaccinations among individuals at risk for serious complication from influenza. The conceptual framework allowed the providers to convey information on safety concerns that patient have about the influenza vaccine, specifically fears that are related to the influenza vaccine. Results of these interviews are being used to design messages to promote influenza vaccination among African Americans ages 50 and older. The messages address specific issues that participants raised in these interviews, such as patients' fear of getting sick from the influenza vaccinations, patients' concerns that the influenza vaccination does not work, and conditions/situations under which patients are more likely to request, accept, or refuse the influenza vaccination. The healthcare professionals participating in the interviews also shared interpersonal and institutional communication strategies that they used to promote influenza vaccinations among their patient populations. These strategies were also considered and incorporated into our messages. Sample messages will be presented in the session.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to;
• Demonstrate understanding of concerns expressed by patients and providers concerning the safety and efficacy of the influenza vaccination.
• Identify at least two interpersonal communication strategies used by clinicians to promote influenza vaccination among their patients.
• Identify at least two institutional message strategies used by health care professionals to promote influenza vaccination among their patients.

Keywords: African American, Barriers to Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.