Influenza vaccination motivators among healthcare personnel in a large acute care hospital in Israel

Abstract

BackgroundVaccinating healthcare personnel (HCP) against influenza is important to prevent transmission and morbidity among patients and staff.MethodsWe conducted an online survey assessing knowledge, perceptions and attitudes concerning influenza vaccination among HCP. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of vaccination.ResultsThe survey was completed by 468 HCP representing all categories of staff. Doctors believed that vaccination was the best way to prevent influenza and perceived the vaccine less harmful as compared to nurses and allied health professionals. Getting vaccinated was associated with a greater likelihood of recommending vaccination to patients: 86 % vs. 54 % in vaccinated and unvaccinated HCP, respectively. Reasons for vaccine refusal were fear of needles (19 %); fear of side effects (66 %) and lack of time (16 %). In the multivariate analysis, survey items that were independently associated with vaccination were beliefs that: vaccine effectively prevents influenza (OR 4.07 95 % CI 2.51, 6.58); HCP are at increased risk of influenza (OR 2.82 95 % CI 1.56, 5.13); vaccine can cause influenza (OR 0.41 95 % CI 0.25, 0.65); contracting influenza is likely in the absence of vaccination (OR 1.96 95 % CI 1.12, 3.42); and that HCP might transmit influenza to their family (OR 4.54 95 % CI 1.38, 14.97). The belief that HCP might transmit influenza to patients was not independently associated with vaccine uptake.ConclusionOur study revealed misconceptions and knowledge gaps concerning the risk of influenza and the influenza vaccine. There were significant differences in knowledge and attitudes between healthcare professions. HCP decline vaccination because they do not perceive a personal risk of influenza infection and are concerned about side effects. Thus, in order to increase vaccination rates it is important to educate HCP to correct misconceptions concerning vaccine efficacy and safety, while promoting the benefit of getting vaccinated in order to protect themselves and their families.

Assessment of the belief and attitudes of Iranian healthcare personnel’s toward the influenza infection and influenza vaccination

“…It is found out here that the widespread causes of refusing the influenza vaccine were the “fear of vaccine side effects” and the “vaccine ineffectiveness”. These are similar to the other studies worldwide [18, 25]. An Iranian research in 2016 presented that 19.8% of the respondents were concerned about the influenza vaccine side effects [15].…”

“…In the current study, 38.9% of the HCPs believed that “they might get flu after influenza vaccination”. In the literature review, the HCPs’ misconception about getting flu after influenza vaccination was different; from as low as 38.1% to as high as 78% [15, 25-27]. The lower rate of the misperception in the present study indicates their higher awareness.…”

“…The approval rates were as follow: the physicians (83.4%), the allied health professionals (75.8%), and the nurses (51.9%). On the other hand, a research in 2016, disclosed that there was no significant difference between the physicians, the nurses and other health professional groups on this issue (i.e., “influenza vaccination for pregnant women”) [25]. It is found out here that the widespread causes of refusing the influenza vaccine were the “fear of vaccine side effects” and the “vaccine ineffectiveness”.…”

“…Globally, fear of the influenza vaccine adverse reaction is one of the most important barriers for the acceptance of vaccine [2, 5]. The range of this misconception was between 11-66% in different studies [15, 25]. Another influenza vaccination obstacle was the “fear of the needle” that 10% of our respondents expressed.…”

How to improve influenza vaccine coverage of healthcare personnel

“…In a recent article published in the Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, Nutman and Yoeli reported on an assessment of the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes concerning influenza vaccination among HCP in a large tertiary care academic hospital in Israel [14]. The authors obtained their information by means of an anonymous survey completed by 468 HCP representing all categories of staff.…”