Influenza vaccination coverage among medical residents

Abstract

although influenza vaccination is recognized to be safe and effective, recent studies have confirmed that immunization coverage among health care workers remain generally low, especially among medical residents (MRs). aim of the present multicenter study was to investigate attitudes and determinants associated with acceptance of influenza vaccination among Italian MRs. a survey was performed in 2012 on MRs attending post-graduate schools of 18 Italian Universities. each participant was interviewed via an anonymous, self-administered, web-based questionnaire including questions on attitudes regarding influenza vaccination. a total of 2506 MRs were recruited in the survey and 299 (11.9%) of these stated they had accepted influenza vaccination in 2011-2012 season. Vaccinated MRs were older (P = 0.006), working in clinical settings (P = 0.048), and vaccinated in the 2 previous seasons (P < 0.001 in both seasons). Moreover, MRs who had recommended influenza vaccination to their patients were significantly more compliant with influenza vaccination uptake in 2011-2012 season (P < 0.001). "To avoid spreading influenza among patients" was recognized as the main reason for accepting vaccination by less than 15% of vaccinated MRs.Italian MRs seem to have a very low compliance with influenza vaccination and they seem to accept influenza vaccination as a habit that is unrelated to professional and ethical responsibility. Otherwise, residents who refuse vaccination in the previous seasons usually maintain their behaviors. Promoting correct attitudes and good practice in order to improve the influenza immunization rates of MRs could represent a decisive goal for increasing immunization coverage among health care workers of the future.

Influenza like Illness among Medical Residents Anticipates Influenza Diffusion in General Population: Data from a National Survey among Italian Medical Residents

“…Except for influenza vaccination, MRs reported a widely adoption of protective behaviors. As well as other studies confirm, a large proportion of MRs reported low influenza vaccination coverage because of concerns about side effects, lack of perceived risk and inadequate university training [3,5,11]. …”

“…This higher incidence among the Italian MRs was not linked to personal protective equipment use because Italian MR declared a positive attitude toward its adoption during clinical practice not dissimilarly to European and extra-European HCW. [19, 20] On the other hand the higher ILIs incidence could be related to lower vaccination rates observed in Italy than other countries (49.5% in US and 45.6% in France) [11,21,22]. Furthermore, a large majority of ILI cases was generally observed among under 25 year-old subjects, an age group which some MRs attending the first three years belong to [23].…”

“…The final version of the questionnaire included 10 sections with 23 items. Data concerning reasons of influenza vaccination uptake or refusing, as well as attitudes to recommend influenza vaccination to patients, had been analyzed elsewhere [11]. In the present manuscript, in particular, four sections of the questionnaire were considered, which were related to ILI incidence and prevention:…”

Impact assessment of an educational course on vaccinations in a population of medical students

“…Indeed, in the past years, many studies have been conducted on MRs in order to assess the vaccine coverages of this specific group of population, particularly for influenza and hepatitis B, and also to identify the determinants of the vaccine uptake for healthcare workers (HCWs). Looking at the overall vaccination rate observed in a previous study, Italian MRs seem to have a very low compliance with influenza vaccination: acceptance of seasonal and pandemic A (H1N1) influenza vaccination ranges from 12% to 20% [12-14]. …”

A campaign aimed at increasing seasonal influenza vaccination coverage among post graduate medical residents in an Italian teaching hospital

“…16,17 Among MRs, a study that enrolled 18 Italian Universities, showed that only 11.9% of MRs, were vaccinated against influenza during the 2011-12 influenza season. 18 In our Teaching Hospital, the IRCCS (Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" (FPG) in Rome, where MRs of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) work, the influenza vaccination coverage rate was even worse: only 1% of MRs underwent vaccination against influenza in the 2014-15 season. 19 Overall, the most common reasons why HCWs and MRs do not undergo vaccination are: perception of not being at risk of getting infected by influenza and its complications; knowledge of the presence of people who develop influenzalike symptoms even when they received their influenza vaccination; perception of not being in need of the vaccination; lack of awareness of being potential carriers or even responsible for the transmission of the virus to patients or community members; lack of time, and doubts about the effectiveness of the vaccine.…”