Knowledge, attitude and disinformation regarding vaccination and immunization practices among healthcare workers of a third-level paediatric hospital (original) (raw)

Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours of Health Care Workers towards Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Recommended Vaccinations: An Observational Study in a Teaching Hospital

Vaccines

Background: Recommended vaccinations are the cheapest and most effective measure to reduce the risk of transmission and related complications, especially in high-risk healthcare settings. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of HCWs in relation to national recommendations. Methods: A transversal study was conducted through administration of a questionnaire by personal interview. The following care units were involved: Paediatric, Neonatal, Cardiac Surgery and General Intensive Care Units and Infectious Diseases Unit. Results: The study sample comprised 308 HCWs. Half the sample were aware of the vaccination recommendations, with occupation and age found to be predictive factors (OR = 9.38, 95%CI: 2.07–42.41; OR = 0.36, 95%CI: 0.22–0.60). A higher percentage defined the diseases as a risk for their patients’ health, although this perception was lower in the over-40 age group. In several cases, there were statistically significant differences between th...

An evaluation of attitude toward vaccines among healthcare workers of a

Background. Vaccination is an effective and safe health technology. Despite this vaccine coverage falls short of national and international targets. Study design. The aim of the study was to evaluate the views of medical staff at Messina University Hospital regarding vaccinations, their current and future vaccination status and whether they recommend it to their patients. Methods. The study was conducted from April 2016 to March 2017 by an anonymous face-to-face questionnaire submitted to HCWs. Results. A general lack of confidence and insecurity about vaccination was shown by a substantial proportion of physicians analyzed while pediatricians showed a positive attitude to vaccines. However, many physicians had not been immunized with the recommended vaccines for HCWs and therefore represent a potential source of infection for both patients and the general population. Conclusions. Despite the evidence of the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, compliance by HCWs remains very low for a variety of reasons. A range of measures are therefore needed to ensure their use, not only by the general population, but also by doctors who should be their major promoters.

Identifying attitudes, beliefs and reported practices of nurses and doctors as immunization providers

Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2010

Title. Identifying attitudes, beliefs and reported practices of nurses and doctors as immunization providers. Aim. This paper is a report of a study conducted to examine the attitudes, beliefs, behavioural intentions and self-reported behaviour of nurses and physicians relating to key immunization behaviours and compare the findings for nurses and physicians. Background. Immunization is an important and effective public health intervention. Understanding immunization providers' attitudes and beliefs toward immunization has the potential to improve educational efforts and lead to behavioural change. Method. A postal survey was conducted with all immunization providers in British Columbia, Canada, in 2005. The survey elicited data on demographics, practice characteristics, attitudes, perceived social norms and perceived behavioural control related to key immunization behaviours. Results. Responses were received from 344 nurses and 349 physicians. The response rate was 67% for nurses and 22% for physicians. More nurses than physicians thought that administering all recommended vaccines at one visit was important (89AE2% vs. 63AE2% P < 0AE001); nurses felt more pressure from parents to administer all recommended vaccines (82AE4% vs. 48AE7% P < 0AE001), and nurses were also more likely to intend to give all recommended vaccines at one visit (98AE8% vs. 73AE8% P < 0AE001). Both nurses and physicians thought that their own receipt of influenza vaccine each year was important (88AE9%, 87AE1% respectively P = 0AE65). Conclusion. The foundational work done to develop the survey tool can be used to modify it so that survey findings can be validated according to the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The results could inform the development of behavioural change interventions targeting the identified determinants of immunization provider behaviour.

Knowledge, attitudes and vaccination coverage of healthcare workers regarding occupational vaccinations

Vaccine, 2009

Objectives: Immunization of healthcare workers (HCWs) is a major issue for infection control in healthcare facilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge regarding occupational vaccinations, HBV, varicella and influenza vaccination rates and attitudes towards influenza vaccine among HCWs. Design and setting: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two wards (Medicine and Paediatrics) of a 1182-bed teaching hospital in Paris, France. Methods: A standardized, anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was used. Results: Of 580 HCWs, 395 (68%) completed the questionnaire. Knowledge about the occupational vaccinations of HCWs was low. HBV (69%), tuberculosis (54%) and influenza (52%) were the most cited vaccinations. Paediatric staff was more aware of influenza and pertussis immunizations (p < .05). HBV vaccination rate was 93%, among whom 65% were aware of their immune status. Influenza vaccination rate for 2006-2007 was 30% overall, ranging from 50% among physicians to 20% among paramedical staff (p < .05). Physicians based their refusal on doubts about vaccine efficacy, although paramedics feared side effects. Influenza vaccination was associated with knowledge of vaccine recommendations [OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.13-2.57] and contact with patients [OR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.50-5.91]. Conclusions: Knowledge of recommended occupational vaccinations is insufficient in HCWs, except for HBV and influenza. Although the HBV vaccine coverage of HCWs is satisfactory, a large proportion of them is unaware of immune status. Influenza vaccine coverage remains low, especially among paramedical staff because of fear of side effects. As vaccine coverage is associated with knowledge, educational campaigns should be strengthened to increase the adhesion of HCWs to vaccinations.

Healthcare Workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about Vaccinations: A Cross-Sectional Study in Italy

Vaccines

The cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the recommended vaccinations and factors affecting such outcomes among a sample of healthcare workers (HCWs) in public hospitals in Italy. Only 14.1% knew all the recommended vaccinations for HCWs. Physicians and those who had received information about vaccinations from scientific journals, educational activities, or professional associations were more likely to have this knowledge, while those aged 36–45 were more likely to have less knowledge than those in the age group below 36 years. Only 57.3% agreed that the information received about vaccinations was reliable. Respondents who had children, who worked in pediatric/neonatal wards, who were more knowledgeable, or who did not need further information about vaccinations considered the available information to be reliable. Only 17.7% of respondents always recommended vaccinations to their patients. This behavior was more likely to occur in physici...

Flu Vaccination Attitudes, Behaviours, and Knowledge among Health Workers

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

The aim of this work is to evaluate the attitudes, behaviours, and knowledge of health workers employed at an Italian University Hospital on the topic of vaccinations and in regard to flu vaccination. To this end, the study provided for the articulation of a computerised questionnaire on the digital platform EUSurvey which was administered online via e-mail to a sample of 457 health workers, in the period between November 2018 and March 2019. The data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. In particular, a logistic regression analysis was carried out in order to evaluate the relationship between the variables collected and the dichotomous outcome (vaccinated/unvaccinated subjects in the 2018–2019 season). The results, in line with what has been reported by the literature, highlighted that vaccine hesitancy is prevalent also among health workers. Furthermore, according to our study, only 30.6% of the health care workers had the flu vaccination. The survey...

Knowledge Levels, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Health Care Professionals regarding COVID-19 Vaccines

Libyan International Medical University Journal, 2022

Background Shortly after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, vaccines were developed. Vaccination of the society in a short time may be the most important step in the fight against the pandemic. Health workers can be considered role models for society. Aim We aimed to investigate the COVID-19 vaccination status of health care workers. Methods The universe of our cross-sectional and descriptive study consisted of doctors, nurses, secretaries, interns, and other health care professionals. In the light of the literature, a questionnaire was prepared that questioned the attitudes and behaviors of the participants about vaccines. Face-to-face interviews were conducted during the visits. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 806 volunteers, 51.4% (414) male and 48.6% (392) female, with a mean age of 32.7 AE 9.3 years, were included in the study. In total, 4.6% (37) of the participants in the study had not received any COVID-19 vaccine. Male participants were vaccinated statistically significantly more than female participants (p ¼ 0.044). Of those vaccinated against COVID-19, 98.3% (774) had received at least two doses. Also, 26.9% (217) of health care workers had COVID-19 disease. The rate of those whose firstdegree relatives had COVID-19 was 42.2% (340). A total of 87.3% (704) of health care workers reported that COVID-19 vaccines were safe. Also, 25.3% (204), 29.5% (238), and 35.0% (282) of the participants reported that state officials' vaccination in front of the media, social media news, and national media news, respectively, affected the decision to vaccinate. Conclusion Although male health care workers have received more COVID-19 vaccines than female health care workers, vaccination rates of health care workers are at an acceptable level. Health workers comply with the calendar recommended by the ministry.

An evaluation of attitude toward vaccines among healthcare workers of a University Hospital in Southern Italy

Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita, 2017

BACKGROUND Vaccination is an effective and safe health technology. Despite this vaccine coverage falls short of national and international targets. Study design. The aim of the study was to evaluate the views of medical staff at Messina University Hospital regarding vaccinations, their current and future vaccination status and whether they recommend it to their patients. METHODS The study was conducted from April 2016 to March 2017 by an anonymous face-to-face questionnaire submitted to HCWs. RESULTS A general lack of confidence and insecurity about vaccination was shown by a substantial proportion of physicians analyzed while pediatricians showed a positive attitude to vaccines. However, many physicians had not been immunized with the recommended vaccines for HCWs and therefore represent a potential source of infection for both patients and the general population. CONCLUSIONS Despite the evidence of the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, compliance by HCWs remains very low for a...

Beliefs, Attitudes, and Activities of Healthcare Personnel About Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccines

Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 2017

Vaccination of healthcare personnel (HCP) is an effective measure for preventing the spread of influenza among at-risk patients. This study was conducted to determine influenza vaccination rates and activities among HCP working at a tertiary healthcare setting. This study included 470 HCP (85 physicians, 134 nurses, 53 healthcare assistants, 44 paramedics, 47 medical secretaries, and 107 auxillary staff members) working at the emergency, cardiology, chest diseases, and internal medicine departments with the largest volume of patients with vaccination indication of two large university hospitals with similar medical practices and work environment. Each participant completed an anonymous questionnaire form. A total of 470 HCP participated in the survey. The compliance rate of the HCP to participate in the survey was 93.6%. Of these, 26.7% had been vaccinated against influenza. Vaccination in the survey year was significantly associated with having regular influenza vaccinations (OR 48...