title: Vaccination competence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vaccinating is one of the most significant methods of health promotion in the world. The purpose of this study was to describe vaccination competence from the perspective of professionals, clients, and students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional interview study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n=40) were public health nurses, physicians, nursing teachers and graduating public health nursing students, and vaccinated clients of various ages or vaccinated children's parents in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interview data were collected using semistructured interviews in focus groups and individual interviews, and were analyzed by content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants pointed out that the competent vaccinator (CV) displays distinctive personal qualities, possesses the necessary attributes required in the vaccinator-client relationship, and is authorized to administer vaccinations. The competent vaccinator is a health care professional who is committed to vaccinating and who fosters social awareness of vaccinations. The competent implementation of the vaccination procedure consists of the vaccinator's actions before, during, and after the vaccination. The outcomes of a competent implementation are divided into immediate and long-term outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaccination competence is a broad entity. These results may be utilized for improving the practical implementation of vaccinations, administration, education, and research of vaccination procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. anne.nikula@stadia.fi
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nikula
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hupli
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rapola
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leino-Kilpi
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination