Knowledge of and Attitudes to Influenza Vaccination in Healthy Primary Healthcare Workers in Spain, 2011-2012

Abstract

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for healthcare workers, but many do not follow the recommendation. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2011–2012 season. We carried out an anonymous web survey of Spanish primary healthcare workers in 2012. Information on vaccination, and knowledge and attitudes about the influenza vaccine was collected. Workers with medical conditions that contraindicated vaccination and those with high risk conditions were excluded. Multivariate analysis was performed using unconditional logistic regression. We included 1,749 workers. The overall vaccination coverage was 50.7% and was higher in workers aged ≥ 55 years (55.7%), males (57.4%) and paediatricians (63.1%). Factors associated with vaccination were concern about infection at work (aOR 4.93; 95% CI 3.72–6.53), considering that vaccination of heathcare workers is important (aOR 2.62; 95%CI 1.83–3.75) and that vaccination is effective in preventing influenza and its complications (aOR 2.40; 95% CI 1.56–3.67). No association was found between vaccination and knowledge of influenza or the vaccine characteristics. Educational programs should aim to remove the misconceptions and attitudes that limit compliance with recommendations about influenza vaccination in primary healthcare workers rather than only increasing knowledge about influenza and the characteristics of the vaccine.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of influenza vaccine immunization among primary healthcare providers in Dubai health authority, 2016-2017

“…Although the ideal vaccination rate among healthcare providers is 100%, different studies have suggested that vaccination rate of 80% or more of healthcare providers are considered sufficient to reduce transmission and provide herd immunity in a safe level within healthcare facilities. 9 In our study, the vaccine coverage among healthcare providers (53.4%) was similar to previously reported rates in other studies such as in Spain 50.7% coverage, 10 and in Austria 52% coverage. 11 43.9% of participants who have received the vaccine were having co-morbidities.…”

Factors associated with influenza vaccination among healthcare workers in acute care hospitals in Canada

“…In this multiseason study of adults working in acute care hospitals in Canada, the odds ratio for influenza vaccine uptake increased exponentially with every additional year of influenza vaccine uptake over the previous three seasons. Similar findings have been illustrated in studies from the USA, Europe and China, suggesting that the individual perceptions associated with vaccine acceptance and refusal remain stable over several years. It is likely necessary to tailor immunization programs differently to reach HCW at all levels of uptake, from refusers to those accepting influenza vaccine intermittently to those vaccinated annually.…”

Visualizing knowledge and attitude factors related to influenza vaccination of physicians

“…Some studies that include non-hospital workers have shown that vaccination coverages increase with age [24,[31][32][33]. In a previous study that assessed the factors associated with influenza vaccination of HCW using logistic regression methods, we found that age ≥45 years was associated with influenza vaccination [34].…”

“…Other commonly-used statistical methods, such as regression models, evaluate the association between explanatory or independent variables and an outcome or dependent variable [34]. In contrast, the combination of MCA and CA aided identification of different types of physicians without using any specific outcome.…”