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Influenza vaccination among healthcare workers in a university children's hospital
Terhi Tapiainen1, Gurli Bär, Urs B Schaad
1University Children's Hospital, PO Box, CH-4005 Basel, Switzerland.
Insights
Pediatric healthcare workers showed misconceptions about influenza vaccination, especially nurses. Interventions improved physician immunization rates but not those of nurses or other staff.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric healthcare
- Vaccinology
- Public health
Background:
- Pediatric healthcare workers (HCWs) are crucial for child health.
- Influenza vaccination is vital for HCWs to prevent transmission and protect vulnerable populations.
- Understanding HCW attitudes towards influenza vaccination is key to improving uptake.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess pediatric HCW attitudes regarding influenza vaccination.
- To identify barriers to influenza immunization among pediatric HCWs.
- To implement and evaluate an intervention aimed at increasing influenza immunization rates in this population.
Main Methods:
- An anonymous survey was administered to pediatric HCWs to gauge attitudes and reasons for non-vaccination.
- An intervention strategy was developed based on survey findings, including educational materials and improved access to vaccination.
- Immunization rates were compared before and after the intervention using clinic records.
Main Results:
- Nurses reported misconceptions about influenza vaccine efficacy and necessity more frequently than physicians.
- Lack of time was a more common reason for non-vaccination among physicians compared to nurses.
- The overall HCW immunization rate increased from 19% to 24% post-intervention (P = .03).
- Physician immunization rates significantly improved from 43% to 64% (P = .004), while rates for nurses and other HCWs remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Prevalent misconceptions regarding influenza vaccination exist among pediatric staff, particularly nurses.
- Targeted educational and promotional interventions effectively increased physician influenza immunization rates.
- Further strategies are needed to address barriers and improve vaccination uptake among nurses and other pediatric HCWs.
Objectives:
To evaluate the attitudes of pediatric healthcare workers (HCWs) toward influenza vaccination and to increase their rate of immunization.
Methods:
A survey was conducted among pediatric HCWs using an anonymous questionnaire. Survey results were used to design an intervention to increase the immunization rate of staff. Immunization rates before (2003-2004) and after (2004-2005) intervention were assessed using immunization clinic records.
Setting:
A university children's hospital in Switzerland.
Interventions:
(1) An informational letter based on misconceptions noted in the survey, (2) educational conversations with head nurses, (3) more "walk-in" immunization clinics, and (4) a direct offer of influenza immunization on the wards.
Results:
Among vaccine nonrecipients, doubts about the efficacy and necessity of influenza immunization were prevalent and more often reported by nurses than physicians (75% vs 41%, P = .002; and 55% vs 23%, P = .001, respectively). Physicians more often than nurses reported lack of time as a reason for not receiving influenza vaccination (23% vs 5%, P = .01). After intervention, the immunization rate of HCWs increased from 19% to 24% (P = .03). The immunization rate of physicians increased from 43% to 64% (P = .004). No change was noted among nurses (13% vs 14%) and other HCWs (16% vs 16%).
Conclusions:
Misconceptions about influenza vaccination were prevalent among pediatric staff, particularly nurses. Active promotion and educational efforts were successful in increasing the immunization rate of physicians but not nurses and other HCWs.
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