Whooping cough: are health-care workers putting children at risk?
OBJECTIVE
To explore the attitudes and knowledge of health-care workers (HCW) towards whooping cough and an adult whooping cough booster for HCW.


METHODS
HCW at Fairfield Health Service, who had clinical contact with infants or children, were sent a self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were completed by 135 staff, giving a response rate of 74%. Thirty-five per cent were not known to be immunised against whooping cough. Fifty-nine per cent of doctors were known to be immunised, 33% of allied health staff and 28% of nurses. The rates of immunisation between the professional groups were significantly different (chi2 = 8.2 with 2 degrees of freedom; P = 0.017). Thirty-nine per cent of HCW did not know that primary immunisation did not provide lifelong protection. Twenty-seven per cent did not agree that HCW should be offered an adult whooping cough booster. Staff who felt at risk of contracting whooping cough were more likely to recommend that a booster should be offered (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.22-6.04; P = 0.019). Doctors were less likely to recommend that a booster should be offered (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.15-0.87; P = 0.028).


CONCLUSIONS
HCW have low rates of immunity to whooping cough and misconceptions about whooping cough infection and immunisation. Over a quarter of HCW did not agree that a booster should be offered. An ongoing education programme addressing the attitudes and misconceptions identified in this study is a crucial component of the campaign to increase the uptake of adult whooping cough booster immunisation by HCW.
Peadon
Elizabeth
E
Community Paediatrics, Fairfield Health Service, Fairfield, New South Wales, Australia. elizabp5@chw.edu.au
Cooper
Carolyn
C
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009517:New South Wales; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D010567:Pertussis Vaccine