Attitudes amongst Australian hospital healthcare workers towards seasonal influenza and vaccination.
BACKGROUND
Amongst healthcare workers (HCWs), compliance rates with influenza vaccination are traditionally low. Although a safe and effective vaccine is available, there is little Australian data on reasons for poor compliance, especially amongst allied health and ancillary support staff.


METHODS
Cross-sectional investigation of a sample of clinical and non-clinical HCWs from two tertiary-referral teaching hospitals in Sydney, Australia was conducted between June 4 and October 19, 2007. The self-administered questionnaire was distributed to hospital personal from 40 different wards and departments. The main outcome measures were personal beliefs about influenza vaccination and self-reported vaccination status.


RESULTS
Respondents (n = 1079) were categorized into four main groups by occupation: nurses (47.5%, 512/1079), physicians (26.0%, 281/1079), allied health (15.3%, 165/1079) and ancillary (11.2%, 121/1079). When asked whether they felt the influenza vaccine was safe or effective, 81% (879/1079) and 68% (733/1079), respectively, replied in the affirmative. Participants felt that it was more important to get vaccinated to protect patients (74%, 796/1079) than family (68%, 730/1079) or self-protection (66%, 712/1079). However, only 22% (241/1079) of the HCWs who replied reported receiving the vaccine the year the survey was conducted.


CONCLUSIONS
Although HCWs had an adequate level of knowledge towards influenza vaccination, only 22% of them were vaccinated. The approach to improving influenza vaccination rates amongst HCWs and to tackling misconceptions must be multifaceted, adaptable and must evolve regularly to increase coverage.
Seale
Holly
H
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Leask
Julie
J
MacIntyre
C Raina
CR
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D012621:Seasons; D014611:Vaccination
D007252:Influenza Vaccines