title: Employee influenza vaccination in residential care facilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The organizational literature on infection control in residential care facilities is limited. Using a nationally representative dataset, we examined the organizational factors associated with implementing at least 1 influenza-related employee vaccination policy/program, as well as the effect of vaccination policies on health care worker (HCW) influenza vaccine uptake in residential care facilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a cross-sectional study using data from the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to address the study's objectives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Facility size, director's educational attainment, and having a written influenza pandemic preparedness plan were significantly associated with the implementation of at least 1 influenza-related employee vaccination policy/program, after controlling for other facility-level factors. Recommending vaccination to employees, providing vaccination on site, providing vaccinations to employees at no cost, and requiring vaccination as a condition of employment were associated with higher employee influenza vaccination rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Residential care facilities can improve vaccination rates among employees by adopting effective employee vaccination policies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA. Electronic address: bapenteng@georgiasouthern.edu.
authors.forename: Bettye A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Apenteng
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.
authors.forename: Samuel T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Opoku
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006282:Health Personnel; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012112:Residential Facilities; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Assisted living facilities; Health care workers; Long-term care; National Survey of Residential Care Facilities; Vaccination policies