title: Impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome and the perceived avian influenza epidemic on the increased rate of influenza vaccination among nurses in Hong Kong.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate of influenza vaccination and the factors associated with the vaccination's acceptance among nurses in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nurses practicing between 2003 and 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was sent to all nurses registered with any of the 3 nursing associations that participated in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 941 completed questionnaires were available for analysis, though not all nurses responded to every question (response rate, 33.5%-36.3%). Vaccination rates in 2006 and 2007 were 57.2% and 46.2%, respectively. Nurses who were vaccinated in 2006 were more likely to get vaccinated in 2007 (P<.01); 56% of the nurses perceived influenza vaccine as being effective against influenza. The perceived effectiveness of influenza vaccine was a consistent predictor of rates of vaccination in 2006 (odds ratio [OR], 8.47 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 6.13-11.70]; P<.01) and 2007 (OR, 6.05 [95% CI, 3.79-9.67]; P<.01). Concern about contracting avian influenza was a predictor of the vaccination rate in 2006 but not in 2007 (OR, 1.47 [95% CI, 1.03-2.09]; P<.05), as was the perceived lack of control over avian influenza infection (OR, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.06-2.18]; P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall influenza vaccination rate for nurses in Hong Kong was about 50%. It was affected by the perceived threat of an impending outbreak. The attitudes of nurses toward the effectiveness of and rationale for vaccination were a major barrier to increasing the rate of vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Dennise K P
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Shui-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001717:Birds; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000523:psychology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines