A Threat- and Efficacy-Based Framework to Understand Confidence in Vaccines among the Public Health Workforce

Daniel J Barnett; Nicole A Errett; Lainie Rutkow

doi:10.3390/vaccines1020077

A Threat- and Efficacy-Based Framework to Understand Confidence in Vaccines among the Public Health Workforce

Vaccines (Basel). 2013 Apr 8;1(2):77-87. doi: 10.3390/vaccines1020077.

Authors

Daniel J Barnett¹, Nicole A Errett², Lainie Rutkow³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Room E7036, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. dbarnett@jhsph.edu.
² Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Room 513, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. nerrett@jhsph.edu.
³ Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 North Broadway, Room 513, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. hrutkow@jhsph.edu.

Abstract

The Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) is an established threat- and efficacy-based behavioral framework for understanding health behaviors in the face of uncertain risk. A growing body of research has applied this model to understand these behaviors among the public health workforce. In this manuscript, we aim to explore the application of this framework to the public health workforce, with a novel focus on their confidence in vaccines and perceptions of vaccine injury compensation mechanisms. We characterize specific connections between EPPM's threat and efficacy dimensions and relevant vaccine policy frameworks and highlight how these connections can usefully inform training interventions for public health workers to enhance their confidence in these vaccine policy measures.

Keywords: confidence; extended parallel process model; law; legal protections; preparedness; self-efficacy; vaccines.