A qualitative analysis of an online teaching intervention to encourage favorable attitudes toward influenza vaccine among community college students

J Am Coll Health. 2022 Sep 9:1-6. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2117555. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Objective: To promote influenza vaccine acceptance among community college students during the Fall 2020 semester to reduce the incidence of a "twin-demic" occurring of influenza and COVID-19. Participants: A convenience sample of 185 students enrolled in an entry level health course. Methods: Non-experimental cross-sectional design that used a self-paced, online teaching intervention. Qualitative data in the form of online discussion board posts were collected and analyzed assessing attitudes, normative references, and knowledge. Results: High rates of favorable attitudes toward influenza vaccine, evidence of subjective normative references toward science-based information, and an increase in participant knowledge. Conclusions: An online teaching intervention can be effective in changing attitudes, referencing subjective norms related to scientific information, and increasing knowledge.

Keywords: Influenza; community college; online teaching; qualitative.