Attitudes of internal medicine residents regarding influenza vaccination.
OBJECTIVE
To survey the attitudes of internal medicine residents regarding the influenza vaccine and their reasons for accepting or refusing the vaccine during a hospitalwide immunization campaign.


METHODS
Internal medicine residents responded to a written survey.


METHODS
A university-owned, 891-bed, tertiary referral hospital and a 278-bed Veterans Administration hospital in Iowa.


RESULTS
Immediately following the immunization campaign, 51% of residents had received the vaccine. Of those residents who were not vaccinated, 42% never had time to go to the vaccine clinic, but only 8% worried about side effects of the vaccine. Residents whose clinics were staffed by infectious disease subspecialists were significantly more likely to be vaccinated (odds ratio = 2.55; CI95 = 1.01 to 6.42) than residents working with general internists or other subspecialists.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge, vaccine availability, and social pressure all increase the likelihood that residents will be vaccinated. Faculty, particularly those interested in infectious diseases, may influence residents to accept the vaccine.
Nafziger
D A
DA
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242-1081.
Herwaldt
L A
LA
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003625:Data Collection; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000600:supply & distribution; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007484:Iowa; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016312:Treatment Refusal
D007252:Influenza Vaccines