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Pertussis immunization in healthcare workers working in pediatric settings: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP)
M RICCò1,2, L Vezzosi3, G Gualerzi4
1IRCCS-AUSL di Reggio Emilia; Department of Public Health, Service for Health and Safety in the Workplace; Reggio Emilia (RE), Italy.
Insights
Occupational physicians
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Immunization Practices
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) poses a risk to healthcare workers (HCWs) and vulnerable populations.
- Understanding occupational physicians' (OPh) knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pertussis immunization in HCWs is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of OPh concerning pertussis immunization for HCWs in pediatric settings.
- To identify factors influencing OPh's propensity for recommending and administering pertussis vaccines to HCWs.
Main Methods:
- A web-based questionnaire was administered to 148 OPh, assessing knowledge of pertussis, risk perception, and vaccination practices.
- A General Knowledge Score (GKS) and Risk Perception Score (RPS) were calculated.
- Multivariate regression analysis identified predictors of vaccine propensity.
Main Results:
- Only 52.7% of OPh actively managed pertussis vaccination status for HCWs.
- OPh demonstrated good general knowledge (72.4%) but underestimated pertussis risks compared to influenza and HBV.
- Higher GKS and a stronger aim to prevent pertussis transmission predicted proactive vaccination practices.
Conclusions:
- Adherence to pertussis vaccination recommendations for HCWs among OPh was suboptimal.
- Targeted information programs for OPh are needed, emphasizing HCWs' role as potential pertussis reservoirs.
- Improving OPh knowledge and risk perception can enhance pertussis vaccine uptake in HCWs, protecting high-risk groups.
Introduction:
The present study aims to characterize knowledge, attitudes and practices in a sample of occupational physicians (OPh) towards pertussis immunization in healthcare workers (HCWs) from pediatric settings.
Material And Methods:
A total of 148 OPh (45.9% males, mean age of 40.3 ± 13.2 years) compiled a web questionnaire including a knowledge test on Italian recommendations for HCWs, epidemiology and pathology of pertussis infection, being then investigated about risk perceptions and vaccination practices. A General Knowledge Score (GKS) and a Risk Perception Score (RPS) were calculated. Multivariate odds ratios (OR) for predictors of vaccine propensity were calculated through regression analysis.
Results:
78 participants regularly recalled pertussis vaccination status and/or performed pertussis vaccination in HCWs (52.7%). Proactive status was correlated with the aim to avoid pertussis infection in HCWs and its diffusion to other adults (p < 0.001, both statements). GKS was satisfying (72.4% ± 14.9), but participants underestimated the clinical issues of pertussis infection (RPS 60.8% ± 9.5) when confronted with influenza (73.9% ± 10.9) and HBV infection (68.1% ± 10.1). GKS and RPS were well correlated (r = 0.244, p = 0.003). Eventually, a better GKS and the aim to avoid pertussis infection in HCWs were predictive of a proactive status for pertussis vaccination (OR 4.186 95%CI 1.809-9.685 and OR 11.459, 95%CI 3.312-39.651, respectively).
Conclusions:
Adherence of OPh to HCWs pertussis vaccination was unsatisfying. As knowledge status was predictive for vaccine propensity, information programs for OPh should be more appropriately designed, stressing that HCWs may represent a significant reservoir for pertussis infection in high risk groups (e.g. children/newborns, frail elderly).
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