The Mediating Role of the Perceived COVID-19 Vaccine Benefits: Examining Israeli Parents' Perceptions Regarding Their Adolescents' Vaccination.

Israel was among the first countries to initiate adolescent COVID-19 vaccination. As adolescent vaccination requires parental consent, we evaluated the factors associated with parents' willingness to vaccinate their adolescents and their point of view regarding adolescents' involvement in this decision. An online survey was completed by 581 parents of adolescents aged 16-18. The main independent variables included trust in the healthcare system, components of the Health Belief Model (HBM) and adolescents' involvement in the decision, as well as background data, including demographics. Analysis included a multiple logistic regression and mediation examination. Parents reported that 446 adolescents (76.8%) have been or will soon be vaccinated against COVID-19, 12.2% chose not to vaccinate their child and 11% have not yet decided. Vaccination was significantly associated with HBM components and with adolescents' involvement in the decision. The perceived vaccination benefits acted as a mediator in the association between parents' COVID-19 perceived threat and adolescent vaccination, as well as between parents' trust in the healthcare system and adolescent vaccination. Addressing vaccination benefits and barriers is pivotal in the attempt to enhance adolescents' vaccination adherence. Considering the importance of adolescents' involvement in the decision, addressing them directly may also be beneficial in improving vaccination rates.

Distancing Adherence and Negative Emotions among the Israeli Elderly Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Social distancing was found to prevent COVID-19 contagion. Therefore, understanding the factors associated with the public's adherence is important. Acknowledging the importance of emotional wellbeing regarding older people's health, and understanding their emotional state during the pandemic, are crucial. This study assessed factors associated with older people's adherence to social distancing and their emotional status. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 1822 respondents above the age of 60. Distancing adherence, negative emotion, trust, social support, threat perception, attitudes, and subjective norms were assessed, and a path analysis was performed. Adherence was positively associated with attitudes (ß = 0.10; p < 0.001), and with subjective norms (ß = 0.19; p < 0.001). Negative emotions were positively associated with threat perception (ß = 0.33; p < 0.001), and negatively associated with social support (ß = -0.13; p < 0.001) and subjective norms (ß = -0.10; p < 0.001). Attitudes mediated the relationship of threat perception (95% CI = 0.009, 0.034), trust (95% CI = 0.008, 0.029), and social support (95% CI = 0.006, 0.023) with distancing adherence. Subjective norms mediated the relationship between threat perception (95% CI = 0.014, 0.034), trust (95% CI = 0.026, 0.055), and social support (95% CI = 0.002, 0.048) with distancing adherence. Subjective norms mediated the relationship between threat perception (95% CI = -0.022, -0.006), trust (95% CI = -0.034, -0.010), and social support (95% CI = -0.029, -0.009) with negative emotions. When promoting social distancing adherence, subjective norms and attitudes must be considered, as they play a role in promoting adherence and negative-emotion regulation.

Multidisciplinary work promotes preventive medicine and health education in primary care: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Preventive medicine and health education are among the strategies used in coping with chronic diseases. However, it is yet to be determined what effect do personal and organizational aspects have on its' implementation in primary care. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in order to assess and compare preventive medicine and health education activities in three types of primary care models: solo working independent physicians, nurse-physician collaborations and teamwork (nurses, dietitians and social workers working alongside a physician). Questionnaires were emailed to 1203 health professionals between September and November 2015, working at Maccabi Healthcare Services, the second largest Israeli healthcare organization. Self-reported rates of health education groups conducted, proactive appointments scheduling and self-empowerment techniques use during routine appointments, were compared among the three models. Independent variables included clinic size as well as health professionals' occupation, health behaviors and training. A series of multivariate linear regressions were performed in order to identify predictors of preventive medicine and health education implementation. Computerized health records (CHR) validated our self-report data through data regarding patients' health behaviours and outcomes, including health education group registration, adherence to occult blood tests and influenza vaccinations as well as blood lipid levels. RESULTS: Responders included physicians, nurses, dietitians and social workers working at 921 clinics (n = 516, response rate = 31%). Higher rates of proactive appointments scheduling and health education groups were found in the Teamwork and Collaboration models, compared to the Independent Physician Model. Occupation (nurses and dietitians), group facilitation training and personal screening adherence were identified as preventive medicine and health education implementation predictors. Group registration, occult blood tests, healthy population's well-controlled blood lipids as well as influenza vaccinations among chronically ill patients were all significantly higher in the Teamwork and Collaboration models, compared to the Independent Physician Model. CONCLUSIONS: The Teamwork and Collaboration models presented higher rates of preventive medicine and health education implementation as well as higher rates of patients' positive health behaviours documented in these models. This suggests multidisciplinary primary care models may contribute to population's health by enhancing preventive medicine and health education implementation alongside health professionals' characteristics.