Factors influencing acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination by hospital personnel in an area hyperendemic for hepatitis B.
A free-of-charge vaccination program against hepatitis B, in which plasma-derived vaccine was used, was offered to 1,299 hospital personnel of Chulalongkorn University Hospital, Bangkok. The initial acceptance rate for vaccination was 65.7%, with 10.0% nonacceptance and 24.3% undecided. The highest rates of acceptance were among medical students (75.5%), student nurses (68.8%), and newly graduated nurses (63.6%). The lowest rate of acceptance was among physicians (48.2%). Factors strongly associated with the acceptance of vaccination were nature of work, age of personnel (< or = 40 yr), number of years spent in profession (< or = 15 yr), knowledge of hepatitis B, confidence in vaccine efficacy and safety, no history of hepatitis B infection, and contact with blood or blood product. Different types of fear, as well as lack of knowledge, were the main reasons responsible for 46.2% of all refusals. More specific educational efforts about vaccine safety and efficacy may positively influence the acceptance of hepatitis vaccination program among health care personnel.
Israsena
S
S
Gastroenterology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Kamolratanakul
P
P
Sakulramrung
R
R
D000328:Adult; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic