title: Acceptability of pandemic A(H1N1) influenza vaccination by Essential Community Workers in 2010 Alicante (Spain), perceived seriousness and sources of information.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Describe acceptability of pandemic A(H1N1) influenza vaccination by Essential Community Workers (ECWs) from Alicante province (Spain) in January 2010. Evaluate the correlation with attitudes, beliefs, professional advice and information broadcasted by media.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 742 ECWs to assess their attitudes towards vaccination against the pandemic influenza strain. A multivariable regression model was made to adjust the Odds Ratios (ORs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some ECWs reported having been vaccinated with seasonal vaccine, 21.5% (95%IC 18.6-24.9); only 15.4% (95%IC 12.8-18.4) with the pandemic one. ECWs vaccinated regularly against seasonal flu (OR 5.1; 95%IC 2.9-9.1), those who considered pandemic influenza as a severe or more serious disease than seasonal flu (OR 3.8; 95%IC 2.1-6.7) and those who never had doubts about vaccine safety (OR 3.7; 95%IC2.1-6.7) had a better acceptance of pandemic vaccine. Finally, 78.7% (95%IC 75.1-81.4) had doubts about pandemic vaccine's effectiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vast amount of information provided by the media did not seem to be decisive to prevent doubts or to improve the acceptability of the vaccine in ECWs. Professional advice should be the focus of interest in future influenza vaccination campaigns. These results should be taken into account by health authorities.
authors: Cátedra de Vacunología "Balmis" UA-CSISP, Universidad de Alicante, Centro Superior de Investigación en Salud Pública, Valencia, Spain.
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Caballero
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Tuells
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Duro-Torrijos
authors: Andreu
authors: A
authors: Nolasco
mesh_terms: D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D061388:Firefighters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016495:Police / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011330:Prisons; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: ECW; Essential Community Worker; Health behavior; Influenza A(H1N1); Information sources; Vaccine