title: Attitudes and knowledge regarding influenza vaccination among hospital health workers caring for women and children.
abstract: This cross-sectional study of 340 obstetrics/gynecology, 123 neonatology, and 244 pediatric health care workers (HCWs) was designed to evaluate compliance with recommendations concerning the use of influenza vaccine during pregnancy and among pediatric subjects. The results clearly show that only a marginal number of the HCWs in all three fields currently recommend vaccine use for pregnant women and healthy young children. Moreover, all of the HCWs were seriously deficient in terms of their general knowledge of influenza prevention and their own personal vaccination coverage was low. Extensive and sustained efforts to overcome cultural limitations concerning influenza and its prevention are urgently required among HCWs caring for women and children in order to ensure effective compliance with the current recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Department for the Health of Women and Children, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tremolati
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellasio
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchisio
authors.forename: Basilio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tiso
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pardi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Principi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines