Knowledge, attitudes, experience and behaviour of frontline health care workers during the early phase of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, Birmingham, UK.
OBJECTIVE
During the early ('containment') phase of the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, when the severity of the pandemic was unclear, health care workers (HCWs) across the UK were deployed to swab and prescribe antiviral drugs to suspected cases. This study describes the knowledge, attitudes, experience and behaviour of frontline HCWs in Birmingham, West Midlands, during this period.


METHODS
During June 2009, a 25-item semi-structured questionnaire was used to survey HCWs who undertook defined clinical duties as part of the public health response during the early phase of the pandemic. Participants were clinical staff based in a primary care out-of-hours service provider.


RESULTS
The response rate was 50% (n = 20). All respondents provided direct clinical care that necessitated prolonged close contact with potentially infectious cases. Knowledge and use of personal protective equipment and infection control procedures was consistently high. However, the main source of infection control advice was local guidance. Uptake of, and attitude towards, vaccination as a preventive measure and antiviral prophylaxis was poor.


CONCLUSIONS
HCWs were prepared to provide an essential health care response during the pandemic even when the severity of disease was unclear. However, more needs to be done to change health care workers' negative attitudes towards taking antivirals and receiving influenza vaccination.
Consultant Epidemiologist, Field Epidemiology Service, Public Health England, Birmingham, UK Obaghe.Edeghere@phe.gov.uk.
Obaghe
O
Edeghere
Locum Consultant Epidemiologist, Field Epidemiology Service, Public Health England, Birmingham, UK Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, UK.
Tom
T
Fowler
CEO/Group Medical Director, Birmingham and District General Practitioner Emergency Room, Birmingham, UK.
Fay
F
Wilson
Post-graduate Intern, Field Epidemiology Service, Public Health England, Birmingham, UK.
Richard
R
Caspa
Post-graduate Intern, Field Epidemiology Service, Public Health England, Birmingham, UK.
Smitri
S
Raichand
previously Post-graduate Intern, Field Epidemiology Service, Public Health England, Birmingham, UK; currently Scientist (Epidemiology); Immunisation, Hepatitis and Blood Safety department, Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England, London, UK.
Edna
E
Kara
Specialty Registrar, Field Epidemiology Service, Public Health England, Birmingham, UK.
Sumi
S
Janmohamed Rampling
previously Consultant Regional Epidemiologist, Field Epidemiology Service, Public Health England, Birmingham, UK; currently Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control. Caribbean Institute of Public Health, Trinidad & Tobago.
Babatunde
B
Olowokure
D000328:Adult; D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000067393:Personal Protective Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines
Health care workers’ knowledge and attitudes; health services research; occupational health; pandemic influenza; public health