Factors affecting influenza vaccine uptake among health care workers

Background In 2000, the UK Departments of Health recommended influenza immunization to employees directly involved in patient care. Uptake of this immunization had tended to be variable and usually low. Aims To assess personal and organizational factors associated with influenza immunization uptake...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Occupational medicine (Oxford) 2005-09, Vol.55 (6), p.474-479
Main Authors: O'Reilly, F. W., Cran, G. W., Stevens, A. B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absenteeism
Adult
attitude
Attitude of Health Personnel
Biological and medical sciences
Epidemiologic Studies
Female
Geriatric Nursing - statistics & numerical data
health care sector
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
health personnel
Human viral diseases
Humans
immunization
Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional - prevention & control
Infectious diseases
influenza
influenza vaccine
Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage
Influenza, Human - prevention & control
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Northern Ireland
Nurses - psychology
Occupational Health
sick leave
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vaccination - utilization
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases
workplace
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background In 2000, the UK Departments of Health recommended influenza immunization to employees directly involved in patient care. Uptake of this immunization had tended to be variable and usually low. Aims To assess personal and organizational factors associated with influenza immunization uptake among Health Care Workers (HCWs). Methods A cross-sectional survey of all HCWs within the Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland and a parallel-group study of nursing staff within Elderly Care using self-administered questionnaires. Results Of 203 nurses working in elderly care units 76(37%) were immunized and 127(63%) declined. Almost 70% of those not immunized perceived themselves to be ‘healthy’ and gave this reason for declining immunization. Nurses were more likely to be immunized by a factor of four if they believed there was benefit for healthy HCWs, three if they felt at-risk of contracting influenza and nine on a recommendation from the occupational health (OH) unit. Fifteen OH units participated in a survey of HCWs at the time of immunization. Five thousand two hundred and thirty (9.7%) HCWs were immunized. Increased uptake was correlated with immunization in area of work (r=0.74, P=0.02) and when provided out of hours (r=0.83; P
ISSN:0962-7480
1471-8405
DOI:10.1093/occmed/kqi099