title: Attitudes of healthcare workers toward pertussis vaccination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the attitudes of pediatric healthcare workers (HCWs) toward pertussis vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted among pediatric HCWs, using an anonymous questionnaire, at a university children's hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 298 eligible employees, 121 (40.6%) completed the questionnaire. Lack of information regarding the personal risk of acquiring a pertussis infection and fear of side effects were frequently associated with the refusal of getting immunized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Misconception about pertussis vaccination was prevalent, especially among nursing staff, who are in even closer contact with at-risk children than physicians. Intervention strategies should be designed with focus on nursing staff. Our findings confirm the importance of comprehensive approaches for more education on HCWs to improve acceptance of vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Service, University Hospital, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt, 60590, Germany. sabine.wicker@kgu.de
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wicker
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zielen
authors.forename: Markus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D010567:Pertussis Vaccine