Workplace interventions associated with influenza vaccination coverage among health care personnel in ambulatory care settings during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 influenza seasons

Abstract

Background Vaccination of health care personnel (HCP) can reduce influenza-related morbidity and mortality among HCP and their patients. The objective of this study was to investigate workplace policies associated with higher influenza vaccination coverage among HCP who worked in ambulatory care settings without influenza vaccination requirements. Methods Data were obtained from non-probability Internet panel surveys of HCP conducted in April 2014 and April 2015. Respondents were asked about vaccination status and workplace vaccination policies and interventions. Logistic regression models were used to assess the independent associations between each workplace intervention and influenza vaccination, controlling for occupation, age, and race/ethnicity. Statistics were calculated under the assumption of simple random sampling. Results Among HCP working in ambulatory care settings without a vaccination requirement (n=866), 65.7% reported receiving influenza vaccination for the previous influenza season. Increased vaccination coverage was independently associated with being offered free onsite vaccination for 1 day (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.38 [1.07–1.78]) or >1 day (PR = 1.58 [1.29–1.94]) and employers sending personal reminders to be vaccinated (PR=1.20 [0.99–1.46]). Being age ≥ 65 years compared with age 18–49 years (PR=1.30 [1.07–1.56]) and working as a clinical professional or clinical non-professional compared with working as a non-clinical health care worker (PR=1.26[1.06–1.50] and PR=1.28[1.03–1.60], respectively) were also associated with higher coverage. Vaccination coverage increased with increasing numbers of workplace interventions. Conclusion Implementing workplace vaccination interventions in ambulatory care settings, including free onsite influenza vaccination that is actively promoted, could help increase influenza vaccination among HCP.

Impact of Communicative and Informative Strategies on Influenza Vaccination Adherence and Absenteeism from Work of Health Care Professionals Working at the University Hospital of Palermo, Italy: A Quasi-Experimental Field Trial on Twelve Influenza Seasons

“…A study conducted in the US showed that vaccination coverage among HCWs, who reported at least two interventions, was about twice than HCWs without any intervention at the workplace [29]. These results were similar to those shown by a recent review on interventions to increase influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs, which reported that vaccination uptake had a direct relation with multiple intervention strategies adopted in health care settings [30][31][32].…”

Impact of Communicative and Informative Strategies Tailored for Health Care Workers to Increase Influenza Vaccination Compliance in the Major Sicilian University Hospital

“…A study conducted in US showed that vaccination coverage among HCWs who reported at least two workplace interventions was about twice than HCWs without any intervention at workplace [28]. These results were similar to others of recent review articles on interventions to increase influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs which reported that vaccination uptake increases with an increasing number of intervention program in health care settings [29,30].…”

“…Institutional informative and communicative strategies at the UH of Palermo contributed to a substantial increase in vaccination coverage. Only with an adequate information and a better university training, false perceptions on influenza vaccination could be modified over time [28].…”

Attitudes and Perception of Healthcare Workers Concerning Influenza Vaccination during the 2019/2020 Season: A Survey of Sicilian University Hospitals

“…From this perspective, all the initiatives and strategies adopted in healthcare contexts to improve influenza vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions could contribute to an increase in adherence [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Palermo UH adopted several strategies in previous seasons that contributed to a reduction in vaccine hesitancy and considerably increased vaccination adherence among HCWs [ 9 ].…”