Original Article: Assessing physicians’ in training attitudes and behaviors during the 2009 H1N1 influenza season: a cross‐sectional survey of medical students and residents in an urban academic setting

Abstract

Please cite this paper as: May et al. (2010) Assessing physicians’ in training attitudes and behaviors during the 2010 H1N1 influenza season: a cross‐sectional survey of medical students and residents in an urban academic setting. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI: 10.1111/j.1750‐2659.2010.00151.x. Background Despite concern for hospital‐based transmission of influenza, little research has been carried out on perceptions and behaviors of physicians in training with regard to influenza‐like illness (ILI), especially in light of the recent H1N1 pandemic. Objectives We aimed to evaluate self‐reported episodes of ILI among medical students and residents to determine the impact of ILI on school and clinical performance, absenteeism, and patterns of preventive measures used by this population both in and out of the healthcare setting. Methods We anonymously surveyed medical students and residents at an urban institution between November 3 and December 11, 2009. Data were analyzed separately for medical students and residents for frequency of close‐ended responses. Open‐ended answers were analyzed thematically. Our Institutional Review Board exempted this study from review. Results Forty‐five percent of medical students and 53% of resident respondents perceived the risk of acquiring H1N1 at school or work as high, and although 43% of medical students and 66% of resident respondents had received the influenza vaccination and most reported increasing non‐pharmaceutical preventive measures, 9% of medical students and 61% of residents with one or more episodes of ILI chose to continue to attend class or work when ill. Conclusions Although students and residents report high risk of infection because of work‐ or school‐related activities, many involved in patient care activities do not comply with recommended infection control precautions. Educational campaigns should be developed and infection control guidelines should be included in routine medical student and resident curricular activities.

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

“…medical residents (MRs) [2]. MRs, indeed, can be frequently the first contact for patients, but they can lack knowledge and training about adoption of preventive measures [3–5]. Moreover, MRs who are in charge of the hospital patient care may play a key role in fostering appropriate preventive behaviors through the patients [3].…”

“…Coley et al have supposed that the secondary attack rate among unprotected HCWs is higher (54.3%) respect to attack rate among adults (34.1%) [10]. Nonetheless, only few studies have been carried out about ILI incidence in MRs at both the local and national level [3]. The objective of this multicentre study were to assess the reported incidence of ILIs among Italian MRs during the 2011–2012 influenza season and to detect variables associated with ILI occurrence.…”

Evaluation of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) exposures and illness among physicians in training

“…In another published survey of residents during the pH1N1 pandemic, May et al 10 found that 59% of residents would wear gloves, 44% would wear a surgical mask, and 35% would wear an N95 respirator before entering the room of a patient with ILI. Although our respondents reported higher rates of adherence to the use of gloves (82%) and surgical mask or higher level of protection (83%-88% depending on the hospital), fewer responding physicians used other forms of required PPE that were not evaluated in the survey of May et al, including eye protection (36%) and gowns (58%).…”

“…Although our respondents reported higher rates of adherence to the use of gloves (82%) and surgical mask or higher level of protection (83%-88% depending on the hospital), fewer responding physicians used other forms of required PPE that were not evaluated in the survey of May et al, including eye protection (36%) and gowns (58%). 10 Lack of awareness of patients' pH1N1 or ILI status and unavailability of PPE near patient rooms were the most common reasons cited for not using recommended PPE. These findings demonstrate the importance of early identification of patients requiring isolation precautions and the administrative responsibilities of installing isolation precaution signage and ensuring the appropriate stock of supplies on each floor.…”

Health-care providers’ preparedness for H1N1/09 influenza prevention and treatment in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“…Although the majority of the prescribers and dispensers indicated that H1N1/09 influenza was a serious health problem requiring educating the public on its prevention measures, none of them adopted preventive measures necessary during an air-borne disease outbreak. The lack of substantial change in adopting preventive measures or knowledge about the modes of H1N1 transmission among the health-care providers suggests that community mitigation measures for H1N1/09 influenza and other outbreaks are unlikely to succeed if health-care providers do not take the leading role [15,16].…”