Date of Award

4-21-2017

Degree Type

Evidence-Based Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Christina Cavinder

Abstract

Multiple influenza strains exist and college aged students are the most affected population from the H1N1 strain. The H1N1 influenza pandemic had high attack rates reported on campuses from 25% to 73% (Benjamin et. al., 2016; Uddin et. al., 2009). Only 8% to 40% of college students are vaccinated against influenza despite a target goal of 50% set by the American Healthy Campus 2020 (Benjamin et. al., 2016; Poehling, et. al., 2012). The purpose of this evidence based project was after implementing a multi-component influenza vaccination campaign to determine changes in intent to receive the vaccine among college students. To help guide the change for the project, the Health Belief Model and Stetler’s model was used. A private university in Northwest Indiana was chosen for implementation. In collaboration with the nurse practitioner at the university’s student health center and approval from the IRB at the college, the project took place from October to January. Best practice recommendations determined EBP components would include educational tools and immunization clinics on campus. Educational components were provided through social media, electronic campus media, flyers, and posters. In collecting the data for analysis, non matching pre and post-surveys were sent through the university email system to all undergraduate and graduate students meeting the study criteria. The data was analyzed using a chi-square test of independence to determine changes for the primary objective and secondary objectives. The primary objective of intention to receive the influenza vaccination among college students found no significant relationship (x2(1) = 0.089, p>0.05), however changes were present between survey participants at 45.1% in the pre-survey and 51.6% in the post-survey. None of the secondary objectives of the college students’ influences and motivations about vaccination were found to be significant. With no statistical differences found in the EBP but subtle positive changes noted in all outcomes after implementation, further efforts should occur to utilize and research multi-component influenza campaigns in college students to change the acceptance and receipt of the vaccine.

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