title: Vaccination policies of Utah family practice clinics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to collect information regarding healthcare worker (HCW) vaccination policies in Utah family practice clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in Utah family practice clinics in the most densely populated counties in the state and was a cross-sectional descriptive design. Data were collected from 91 family practice clinic managers. Descriptive statistics were performed, as well as a content analysis for open-ended items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCWs are employed in environments where infectious diseases can be easily spread from person to person, thus, vaccinations can be instrumental in protecting the health of HCWs and patients alike. In Utah, 56.8% of family practice clinics had either no vaccination policy for HCWs or had a policy with no consequences for noncompliance. Utah family practice clinics need to implement changes to create and maintain HCW vaccination policies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse practitioners can be leaders and change agents by working with their county and state health departments to create state-wide policies that mirror the position statements from the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
authors.forename: Karlen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Luthy
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
authors.forename: Levi R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Kohler
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
authors.forename: Janelle L B
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Macintosh
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
authors.forename: Lacey M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Eden
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
authors.forename: Renea L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Beckstrand
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
authors.forename: Emily L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Utah County Health Department, Provo, Utah.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: E Hill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014589:Utah; D014611:Vaccination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
keywords: Immunization; clinic; disease prevention; healthcare team; vaccination