Understanding health care personnel's attitudes toward mandatory influenza vaccination.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated the factors influencing influenza vaccination rates among health care personnel (HCP) and explored HCP's attitudes toward a policy of mandatory vaccination.


METHODS
In September 2012, a 33-item Web-based questionnaire was administered to 3,054 HCP employed at a tertiary care hospital in metropolitan Detroit.


RESULTS
There was a significant increase in the rate of influenza vaccination, from 80% in the 2010-2011 influenza season (before the mandated influenza vaccine) to 93% in 2011-2012 (after the mandate) (P < .0001). Logistic regression showed that HCP with a history of previous influenza vaccination were 7 times more likely than their peers without this history to receive the vaccine in 2011-2012. A pro-mandate attitude toward influenza vaccination was a significant predictor of receiving the vaccine after adjusting for demographics, history of previous vaccination, awareness of the hospital's mandatory vaccination policy, and patient contact while providing care (P = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
The increased rate of influenza vaccination among HCP was driven by both an awareness of the mandatory policy and a pro-mandate attitude toward vaccination. The findings of this study call for better education of HCP on the influenza vaccine along with enforcement of a mandatory vaccination policy.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. Electronic address: rawali@med.wayne.edu.
Reda A
RA
Awali
Department of Health Care Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Preethy S
PS
Samuel
Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Bharat
B
Marwaha
Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Nazir
N
Ahmad
Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Puneet
P
Gupta
Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Vinod
V
Kumar
Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Joseph
J
Ellsworth
Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Elaine
E
Flanagan
Occupational Health Services, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
Mark
M
Upfal
Occupational Health Services, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
Jim
J
Russell
Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Carol
C
Kaplan
Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Keith S
KS
Kaye
Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Teena
T
Chopra
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D008875:Middle Aged; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines
Ethical; Leadership; Pro-mandate attitude; Web-based questionnaire