Research Mentor Name

Eliezer Arody Gomez, MD

Research Mentor Email Address

hr4617@wayne.edu

Institution / Department

Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences

Document Type

Research Abstract

Research Type

publichealth

Level of Research

no

Abstract

Background:

Detroit’s Hispanic community is still disproportionally uninsured at about 2x the rate of non-Hispanic white and 3x the rate of non-Hispanic Black residents. In the post-COVID era, vaccine hesitancy and barriers to access have been well-documented. Studies suggest that minority populations, including the Hispanic population, may experience unique social determinants of health which affect their vaccination rates and outcomes. Additionally, research shows that knowledge of vaccines may correlate with levels of trust.

Methods:

We sought to describe the knowledge, barriers to access, and levels of trust regarding the influenza (flu) vaccine in Hispanic individuals of Metro Detroit. We used a 23-question, 5-part survey adapted from the validated WHO SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy Survey to assess these above variables at Wayne State Amigos Médicos clinics and vaccination events, as well as in the community throughout Metro Detroit during the flu seasons of 2023 and 2024. Upon verbal consent, voluntary survey participants (current n=120) were administered the survey via Qualtrics in either English or Spanish. Descriptive analysis was subsequently conducted.

Results:

Findings included average knowledge and high trust regarding influenza vaccination amongst participants. Additionally, few overall barriers to vaccination were reported, including insurance. Only 44% of respondents felt that the flu vaccine is required each year (p=0.21), suggesting knowledge of vaccine development may be deficient. 47% felt that the vaccine helps prevent illness (p=0.01), and 98% felt that vaccines are at least sometimes necessary (p

Conclusion:

Our study shows that Hispanic individuals of Metro Detroit have average levels of knowledge and high trust regarding the influenza vaccine. Barriers to influenza vaccination may be more likely time-related than insurance-related. Young Hispanic individuals and males may be less trusting of the influenza vaccine overall; it is possible that lower vaccine-taking behavior and knowledge in these groups, respectively, may correlate with low trust. Further research is needed to address time-related barriers and increase vaccine knowledge and trust through patient education to improve health outcomes for all Hispanic individuals.Knowledge, barriers, and trust may relate to influenza vaccination behavior. Our study suggests that these variables may be better than previously expected in the Hispanic population of Metro Detroit. More research is needed to investigate the needs of this unique group, including ways to further improve vaccination and health outcomes.

Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Epidemiology | Influenza Humans | Influenza Virus Vaccines | Medicine and Health Sciences | Patient Safety

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