title: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of school personnel regarding influenza, vaccinations, and school outbreaks.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  School personnel are important for communicating with parents about school vaccination programs and recognizing influenza outbreaks. This study examined knowledge, attitudes, and practices of school personnel regarding seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza, vaccinations, and school outbreak investigations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed from survey interviews of 58 elementary and middle school personnel in 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Principals, assistant principals, and nurses have higher knowledge than front office clerks regarding seasonal (odds ratio [OR]: 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-5.42) and 2009 H1N1 influenza (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.19-3.71). During 2009-2010, 63.8 and 19.0% of school personnel received seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, respectively. Personnel were more likely to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza if they believed the vaccine was safe (OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.21-4.19). Of those unvaccinated against 2009 H1N1, 48.9% also cited safety concerns. While every principal, assistant principal, and nurse received both infectious diseases and outbreak trainings, only 42.5 and 27.5% of clerks received these trainings, respectively (p < .001), and 30% of clerks believed outbreak recognition was not their responsibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of knowledge regarding influenza illness, vaccination, and outbreaks among subjects was low overall. Education of school personnel may improve school vaccination programs and control of influenza outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd, MS#51, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
authors.forename: Chrysanthy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Lenoa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: Pia S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Pannaraj
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: influenza; influenza outbreaks; influenza vaccine; school outbreaks; school-located vaccination