Attitudes, knowledge and factors related to acceptance of influenza vaccine by pediatric healthcare workers

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Livni, Gilat^; | Chodik, Gabriel | Yaari, Arnon | Tirosh, Naama | Ashkenazi, Shai^;

Affiliations: Unit of Infectious Diseases, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqva, Israel | Department of Pediatrics A, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqva, Israel | Preventive Medicine and Department Epidemiology Sackler of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

Note: [] Correspondence: Shai Ashkenazi, MD, MSc, Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics A, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, 14 Kaplan Street Petah Tiqva 49202, Israel. Tel.: +972 3 925 3680; Fax: +972 3 925 3056; E-mail: sashkenazi@clalit.org.il

Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify factors that affect influenza vaccination in order to devise means to increase compliance. In February 2003, pediatricians attending a national medical conference and nurses in a university hospital in central Israel were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding occupational data, knowledge issues, and reasons for undergoing/not undergoing vaccination themselves. Physicians also reported their practice of recommending the vaccine. A total of 181 physicians and 217 nurses answered the questionnaires (compliance rate, 51%). Almost half (46.8%) had been vaccinated against influenza. There was a higher rate for physicians (60.8%) compared to nurses (35.2%), board-certified or board-eligible pediatricians (67.4%) compared to residents (44.7%), and for in-hospital physicians (67%) compared to community physicians (53%). Most frequent reason for vaccination was self-protection; and most frequent reason for non-vaccination was doubt about vaccine effectiveness. Physicians had better knowledge scores (68 ± 22 vs. 51 ± 23, p=0.01). On multivariate regression analysis, the variables associated with getting influenza vaccine by physicians were knowledge concerning influenza vaccine (OR=1.31), recommending the vaccine to patients (OR=3.37), and specialist status (OR=2.61). Increased knowledge concerning influenza vaccine is associated with increased vaccination rates among pediatric healthcare workers and their recommendation to vaccinate children.

Keywords: Influenza, vaccination, healthcare workers, pediatrics, compliance acceptance of influenza vaccine by pediatric healthcare workers

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 111-117, 2008