Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-n9wrp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-21T11:02:48.914Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Influenza Vaccination Among Healthcare Workers in a University Children's Hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Terhi Tapiainen ,
Gurli Bär ,
Urs B. Schaad  and
Ulrich Heininger
Terhi Tapiainen
Affiliation:
University Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Gurli Bär
Affiliation:
University Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Urs B. Schaad
Affiliation:
University Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Ulrich Heininger*
Affiliation:
University Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
*
University Children's Hospital, PO Box, CH-4005 Basel, Switzerlandulrich.heininger@unibas.ch
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives:

To evaluate the attitudes of pediatric healthcare workers (HCWs) toward influenza vaccination and to increase their rate of immunization.

Methods:

A survey was conducted among pediatric HCWs using an anonymous questionnaire. Survey results were used to design an intervention to increase the immunization rate of staff. Immunization rates before (2003-2004) and after (2004-2005) intervention were assessed using immunization clinic records.

Setting:

A university children's hospital in Switzerland.

Interventions:

(1) An informational letter based on misconceptions noted in the survey, (2) educational conversations with head nurses, (3) more “walk-in” immunization clinics, and (4) a direct offer of influenza immunization on the wards.

Results:

Among vaccine nonrecipients, doubts about the efficacy and necessity of influenza immunization were prevalent and more often reported by nurses than physicians (75% vs 41%, P = .002; and 55% vs 23%, P = .001, respectively). Physicians more often than nurses reported lack of time as a reason for not receiving influenza vaccination (23% vs 5%, P = .01). After intervention, the immunization rate of HCWs increased from 19% to 24% (P = .03). The immunization rate of physicians increased from 43% to 64% (P = .004). No change was noted among nurses (13% vs 14%) and other HCWs (16% vs 16%).

Conclusions:

Misconceptions about influenza vaccination were prevalent among pediatric staff, particularly nurses. Active promotion and educational efforts were successful in increasing the immunization rate of physicians but not nurses and other HCWs.

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 26 , Issue 11 , November 2005 , pp. 855 - 858
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Neuzil, KM, Mellen, BG, Wright, PF, Mitchel, EF Jr, Griffin, MR. The effect of influenza on hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and courses of antibiotics in children. N Engl J Med 2000;342:225–231.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Izurieta, HS, Thompson, WW, Kramarz, P, et al.Influenza and the rates of hospitalization for respiratory disease among infants and young children. N Engl J Med 2000;342:232–239.Google Scholar
3.Kappagoda, C, Isaacs, D, Mellis, C, Peat, J, De Silva, L, O'Connell, A. Critical influenza virus infection. J Paediatr Child Health 2000;36:318–321.Google Scholar
4.Meibalane, R, Sedmak, GV, Sasidharan, P, Garg, P, Grausz, JP. Outbreak of influenza in a neonatal intensive care unit. J Pediatr 1977;91:974–976.Google Scholar
5.Munoz, FM, Campbell, JR, Atmar, RL, et al.Influenza A virus outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1999;18:811–815.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Malavaud, S, Malavaud, B, Sandres, K, et al.Nosocomial outbreak of influenza virus A (H3N2) infection in a solid organ transplant department. Transplantation 2001;72:535–537.Google Scholar
7.Horcajada, JP, Pumarola, T, Martinez, JA, et al.A nosocomial outbreak of influenza during a period without influenza epidemic activity. Eur Respirf 2003;21:303–307.Google Scholar
8.Bridges, CB, Harper, SA, Fukuda, K, Uyeki, TM, Cox, NJ, Singleton, JA. Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2003;52(RR-8):1–34.Google Scholar
9.Ambrosch, F, Fedson, DS. Influenza vaccination in 29 countries: an update to 1997. Pharmacoeconomics 1999;16(suppl 1):47–54.Google Scholar
10.Eisenfeld, L, Perl, L, Burke, G, et al.Lack of compliance with influenza immunization for caretakers of neonatal intensive care unit patients. Am J Infect Control 1994;22:307–311.Google Scholar
11.Rehmet, S, Ammon, A, Pfaff, G, Bocter, N, Petersen, LR. Cross-sectional study on influenza vaccination, Germany, 1999-2000. Emerg Infect Dis 2002;8:1442–1447.Google Scholar
12.Smedley, J, Palmer, C, Baird, J, Barker, M. A survey of the delivery and uptake of influenza vaccine among health care workers. Occup Med (hond) 2002;52:271–276.Google Scholar
13.Heininger, U, Bachler, M, Schaad, UB. Attitudes of pediatricians regarding influenza self-immunization: a survey in a Swiss university children's hospital. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2003;22:391–394.Google Scholar
14.Nafziger, DA, Herwaldt, LA. Attitudes of internal medicine residents regarding influenza vaccination. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1994;15:32–35.Google Scholar
15.Weingarten, S, Riedinger, M, Bolton, LB, Miles, P, Ault, M. Barriers to influenza vaccine acceptance: a survey of physicians and nurses. Am J Infect Control 1989;17:202–207.Google Scholar
16.Watanakunakorn, C, Ellis, G, Gemmel, D. Attitude of healthcare personnel regarding influenza immunization. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1993;14:17–20.Google Scholar
17.Yassi, A, Murdzak, C, Cheang, M, Tran, N, Aoki, FY. Influenza immunization: knowledge, attitude and behaviour of health care workers. Can J Infect Control 1994;9:103–108.Google Scholar
18.Nichol, KL, Hauge, M. Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1997;18:189–194.Google Scholar
19.Martinello, RA, Jones, L, Topai, JE. Correlation between healthcare workers' knowledge of influenza vaccine and vaccine receipt. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24:845–847.Google Scholar
20.Lester, RT, McGeer, A, Tomlinson, G, Detky, AS. Use of, effectiveness of, and attitudes regarding influenza vaccine among house staff. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24:839–844.Google Scholar
21.Ohrt, CK, McKinney, WP. Achieving compliance with influenza immunization of medical house staff and students: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1992;267:1377–1380.Google Scholar
22.Bryant, KA, Stover, B, Cain, L, Levine, GL, Siegel, J, Jarvis, WR. Improving influenza immunization rates among healthcare workers caring for high-risk pediatric patients. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2004;25:912–917.Google Scholar
23.Harbarth, S, Siegrist, CA, Schira, JC, Wunderli, W, Pittet, D. Influenza immunization: improving compliance of healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1998;19:337–342.Google Scholar
24.Nichol, KL, Margolis, KL, Lind, A, et al.Side effects associated with influenza vaccination in healthy working adults: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 1996;156:1546–1550.Google Scholar