Healthcare worker's attitude to seasonal influenza vaccination in the South Tyrolean province of Italy: barriers and facilitators

Andrea Rabensteiner; Alessandra Buja; Dagmar Regele; Martin Fischer; Vincenzo Baldo

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.12.007

Healthcare worker's attitude to seasonal influenza vaccination in the South Tyrolean province of Italy: barriers and facilitators

Vaccine. 2018 Jan 25;36(4):535-544. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.12.007. Epub 2017 Dec 11.

Authors

Andrea Rabensteiner¹, Alessandra Buja², Dagmar Regele³, Martin Fischer³, Vincenzo Baldo¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiological, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, Hygiene and Public Health Unit, University of Padua, Via Loredan 18, 35128 Padova, Italy.
² Department of Cardiological, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, Hygiene and Public Health Unit, University of Padua, Via Loredan 18, 35128 Padova, Italy. Electronic address: alessandra.buja@unipd.it.
³ Department of Preventive Health Care, South Tyrolean Health Service, Via Amba Alagi 33, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.

PMID: 29241645
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.12.007

Abstract

Background: Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is an effective and safe way to prevent influenza. Public health institutions around the world consequently recommend SIV to certain groups at risk, including healthcare worker's (HCWs). Even if SIV is free of charge, the vaccination coverage rate remains low, however. The aim of this study was to gain information on the sociodemographics, lifestyle and knowledge of HCWs associated with their attitude to SIV, also investigating the differences between different professional categories of HCW.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over six consecutive weeks from October to December 2016. It was based on an anonymous online questionnaire administered to all employees (N = 9633) of the South Tyrolean Health Service. Coverage rates and attitudes to SIV were assessed by type of HCW. A logistic regression analysis was run to test the associations between SIV in the winter of 2015/2016 and potential predictors of the HCWs' attitude to vaccination.

Results: In all, 4091 employees (42.4% of the total) took part in the study. Statistically significant differences emerged between the different healthcare professions in terms of their reported vaccination rates and their attitudes to SIV. Among the different types of HCW, physicians had the highest rate of vaccination uptake. There were sociocultural and lifestyle factors associated with SIV in HCWs, as well as these worker's professional roles and the ward where they worked. All the professionals agreed that specific training was the best way to improve HCW vaccination rates.

Conclusion: Low compliance with SIV among HCWs is attributable to numerous factors, some of which relate to their attitude to health issues. Commitment and accountability to patients and society should be further developed in HCWs. Specific training and information, also through informal scientific channels, should be provided to improve their knowledge of influenza and attitude to vaccination.

Keywords: Attitude; Healthcare worker’s; Seasonal influenza vaccination; Vaccination compliance; Vaccination coverage.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Attitude of Health Personnel*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Personnel*
Humans
Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
Italy / epidemiology
Male
Odds Ratio
Public Health Surveillance
Seasons
Socioeconomic Factors
Vaccination Coverage
Vaccination*

Substances

Influenza Vaccines