Shosh Shahrabani

Factors affecting nurses' decision to get the flu vaccine.

The objective of this study was to identify factors that influence the decision whether or not to get the influenza (flu) vaccine among nurses in Israel by using the health belief model (HBM). A questionnaire distributed among 299 nurses in Israel in winter 2005/2006 included (1) socio-demographic information; (2) variables based on the HBM, including susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, barriers and cues to action; and (3) knowledge about influenza and the vaccine, and health motivation. A probit model was used to analyze the data. In Israel, the significant HBM categories affecting nurses’ decision to get a flu shot are the perceived benefits from vaccination and cues to action. In addition, nurses who are vaccinated have higher levels of (1) knowledge regarding the vaccine and influenza, (2) perceived seriousness of the illness, (3) perceived susceptibility, and (4) health motivation than do those who do not get the vaccine. Immunization of healthcare workers may reduce the risk of flu outbreaks in all types of healthcare facilities and reduce morbidity and mortality among high-risk patients. In order to increase vaccination rates among nurses, efforts should be made to educate them regarding the benefits of vaccination and the potential health consequences of influenza for their patients, and themselves.

Workplace vaccination and other factors impacting influenza vaccination decision among employees in Israel.

The study examined the factors affecting the decision to be vaccinated against influenza among employees in Israel. The research, conducted in 2007/2008, included 616 employees aged 18−65 at various workplaces in Israel, among them companies that offered their employees influenza vaccination. The research questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, and the Health Belief Model principles. The results show that the significant factors affecting vaccination compliance include a vaccination program at workplaces, vaccinations in the past, higher levels of vaccine’s perceived benefits, and lower levels of barriers to getting the vaccine. We conclude that vaccine compliance is larger at companies with workplace vaccination programs providing easier accessibility to vaccination.

Factors Affecting Intention among Students to Be Vaccinated against A/H1N1 Influenza: A Health Belief Model Approach

The outbreak of A/H1N1 influenza (henceforth, swine flu) in 2009 was characterized mainly by morbidity rates among young people. This study examined the factors affecting the intention to be vaccinated against the swine flu among students in Israel. Questionnaires were distributed in December 2009 among 387 students at higher-education institutions. The research questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and Health Belief Model principles. The results show that the factors positively affecting the intention to take the swine flu vaccine were past experience with seasonal flu shot and three HBM categories: higher levels of perceived susceptibility for catching the illness, perceived seriousness of illness, and lower levels of barriers. We conclude that offering the vaccine at workplaces may raise the intention to take the vaccine among young people in Israel.

How Experience Shapes Health Beliefs: The Case of Influenza Vaccination

This study examines the impact of past experience with influenza and the influenza vaccine on four categories of the Health Belief Model: beliefs about susceptibility to contracting influenza, severity of illness, perceived benefits of the vaccine in preventing influenza, and perceived barriers to getting vaccinated. The study population comprised employees at different workplaces in Israel. The results indicate that individuals who took flu shots in the past perceived higher levels of benefits from the vaccine and lower barriers to getting the vaccine than those who had not been vaccinated. In addition, those who had influenza over the last 2 years exhibited higher levels of perceived susceptibility and lower levels of perceived benefits from the vaccine. These results imply that an individual’s health beliefs regarding the flu vaccine can be changed as a result of accumulated experience with the illness and the vaccine. Therefore, recommendations for first-time vaccination may have implications on decisions to be vaccinated over the long run.

WTP–WTA disparity among competitive and non-competitive subjects – an experimental study

Recent studies have questioned the existence and interpretation of a possible gap between Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) and Willingness-To-Accept (WTA). The study analyses the bidding patterns in buying and selling lottery tickets that represent financial assets using second price auction, and then tests for the existence of the WTP and WTA gap. It is shown that for lotteries, this gap is not significant for the group of all subjects, but that it may exist for a sub-group of subjects. Subjects were classified according to their degree of competitiveness and a negative gap was found for non-competitive subjects and a positive gap for competitive subjects. These gaps offset each other when the group of all the subjects was used.

Low Flu Shot Rates Puzzle—Some Plausible Behavioral Explanations

The paper presents an economic model to analyze an individuals decision about whether or not to be vaccinated against influenza. It shows that based upon objective parameters, the vaccination rate should be high. Yet, empirical findings indicate low vaccination rates. Therefore, we use the behavioral approach and subjective variables to explain the empirical findings. The subjective variables in the model include perceived infection probability, time preference, subjective costs of vaccination, perceived severity of illness and perceived vaccination effectiveness. A low vaccination rate has a negative externality on society. The paper discusses potential policies that can be applied to changing the situation.

The effects of conflict on risk perception and travelling intention of young tourists

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the evaluations of various risks by young Israelis living in conflict area and their Polish counterparts, who do not live in conflict area and how these perceptions affect their traveling intentions to destinations with different types of risks – Egypt, Turkey, India and Japan. Design/methodology/approach – The research participants were 713 Israeli and Polish students who responded to a structured questionnaire. Findings – The findings validate the assumption that contextual distinctions shape differently factors affecting traveling risk estimation and the intention of young people to travel abroad. The results indicated that the priming effect is substantial, reflected in Israelis’ significantly higher assessments of risks concerning destinations with terror, health and natural disasters hazards in comparison to Poles’ evaluations. As predicted, Israeli students exhibit lesser intentions to travel to Turkey, Egypt and India than their Polish counterparts...

Sources of gender wage gap in different economic sectors: the Israeli case

The purpose of the article is to examine the importance of personal characteristics vs. the importance of human capital returns in explaining the existing gender wage gap in different economic sectors in Israel. Using simulations on Israeli census data for 1983 and 1995, the analysis predicts womens wages in two cases. The first case predicts a womans wages if she had the same personal characteristics as a man, and the second case predicts a womans wages if she had the same human capital returns. By comparing the two predicted gender wage gaps to the existing gender wage gap, we can learn about the dominant explanation for the existing gender wage gap. The results show that the gender wage gap in all economic sectors stems mainly from differences in gender returns rather than differences in gender characteristics. Moreover, in the products sector and the low-services sector, the gender wage gap would have been larger if women had the same characteristics as men.

Sex Hormone/Cortisol Ratios Differentially Modulate Risk-Taking in Men and Women:

The present study aimed to extend the original focus of the dual-hormone hypothesis on testosterone and cortisol involvement in risk-taking to other sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone. The study also examined two alternative models for the proposed relationship between cortisol and sex steroids and for their joint influence on risk-taking: interaction and ratio terms. In all, 40 women and 37 men were tested for circulating sex hormones and provided self-reports on risk-taking. The findings suggest that sex hormone–cortisol ratios differentially modulate risk-taking in men and women: In men, high ratios were associated with risk-taking, whereas in women the opposite pattern was found. The findings are discussed in light of evolutionary assumptions regarding sex differences in neuroendocrine mechanisms, suggesting sex differences in neural sensitivity to sex hormones in risk-taking.

Factors affecting the intention and decision to be treated for obstructive sleep apnea disorder

Background and purposeObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disorder has a deleterious impact on health. Using the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device effectively lessens OSA. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting patients’ intention and actual decision to get treatment.MethodsQuestionnaires were distributed at three sleep laboratories in Israel among 633 participants suspected of having OSA. Six months later, 194 OSA patients were contacted to verify whether they had purchased a CPAP device.ResultsFactors affecting intention to use the device included Health Belief Model variables, income level, and sleep laboratory location. The decision to get treatment was positively affected by the intention to use CPAP, the number of CPAP trial days, age, and number of years in the country.ConclusionsPatients’ attitudes and health beliefs prior to diagnosis may predict their intention to be treated for OSA, and in turn, affect their actual decision to get treatment. Awareness of behavioral intention can enable decision makers developing targeted interventions to promote treatment.