Nurses’ Intentions for COVID-19 Vaccination in South Korea in 2022

Abstract

Purpose: This study was to identify nurses’ intentions for COVID-19 vaccination in 2022.Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 222 nurses in Korea. The collected data were analyzed using the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, the Wilcoxon rank sum test, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis.Results: The score for intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2022 was 2.70 points on a 5-point scale, significantly lower than in 2020 (3.02 points on a 5-point scale). The average score for knowledge related to COVID-19 was 7.22 out of 10 points. Positive correlations were found between the intention for COVID-19 vaccination in 2022 and preventive health behavior, as well as between nurses’ intentions for COVID-19 vaccination in 2022 and 2020. The factors affecting nurses’ intentions for COVID-19 vaccination in 2022 were preventive health behavior (β=.11, <i>p</i>=.045) and nurses’ intentions for COVID-19 vaccination in 2020 (β=.65, <i>p</i><.001). This model showed a significant explanatory power of approximately 45% (F=36.88, <i>p</i><.001) for the COVID-19 vaccination intention in 2022.Conclusion: This result points to the importance of managing nurses’ preventive health behaviors to promote COVID-19 vaccination uptake. Nurses’ vaccination intentions are an important issue for the safety of both nurses and patients. A safe vaccination environment and national policy should be prepared to reduce nurses' hesitations about COVID-19 vaccination.