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DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1556979
Attitudes, knowledge and factors related to acceptance of influenza vaccine by pediatric healthcare workers
Subject Editor:
Publication History
21 October 2007
01 April 2008
Publication Date:
28 July 2015 (online)
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.