title: Influenza vaccination status and attitudes among restaurant employees.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Restaurant employees represent a substantial portion of the US workforce, interact closely with the public, and are at risk for contracting influenza, yet their influenza vaccination rates and attitudes are unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Assess influenza vaccination rates and attitudes among Seattle restaurant employees, to identify factors that could enhance the success of a restaurant-based vaccination program.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2012, we invited employees of Seattle restaurants to complete an anonymous paper survey assessing participant demographics, previous influenza vaccination status, and personal attitudes toward influenza vaccination (using a 5-point scale).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sit-down, full service restaurants in or near Seattle, Washington, were eligible if they had no previous history of offering worksite influenza vaccinations and had more than 20 employees who were older than 18 years and spoke either English or Spanish.
  
  
  METHODS
  We invited staff in all restaurant positions (servers, bussers, kitchen staff, chefs, managers, etc) to complete the survey, which was available in English and Spanish.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 428 restaurant employees surveyed, 26% reported receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine in 2011-2012 (response rate = 74%). Across 8 attitude statements, participants were most likely to agree that the vaccine is not too expensive (89%), and least likely to agree that it is relevant for their age group (25%), or normative at their workplace (13%). Vaccinated participants reported significantly more positive attitudes than unvaccinated participants, and Hispanics reported significantly more positive attitudes than non-Hispanic whites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing influenza vaccination rates among restaurant employees could protect a substantial portion of the US workforce, and the public, from influenza. Seattle restaurant employees have low vaccination rates against seasonal influenza. Interventions aimed at increasing vaccination among restaurant employees should highlight the vaccine's relevance and effectiveness for working-age adults.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Research Center (a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Center) (Drs Harris and Hannon and Mss Parrish, Hammerback, and Allen), Department of Health Services (Drs Harris and Hannon and Mss Parrish, Hammerback, and Allen), School of Public Health; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine (Dr Graves), University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Amanda T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Parrish
authors.forename: Meredith C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Peggy A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hannon
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hammerback
authors.forename: Claire L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012147:Restaurants; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines