Last update:
   17-Jun-2012
 

Arch Hellen Med, 29(3), May-June 2012, 354-361

ORIGINAL PAPER

Factors that influenced the adherence of medical and nursing staff to the influenza A/H1N1 vaccine recommendations

A. Phoka,1 J. Roumeliotou,1 S. Poulopoulou,1 S. Poulakidakos,2 E. Siozou,1 S. Mpraxou,1 A. Tzortsi,1 A. Bucaj,1 G. Plios,2 P. Sourtzi1
1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens,
2Laboratory for Social Research in the Mass Media, Department of Communication and Mass Media, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

OBJECTIVE To investigate the factors that influenced the knowledge, attitude and behavior of medical and nursing staff working in Greek general hospitals towards vaccination for influenza A/H1N1.

METHOD A cross-sectional, correlational study was made with the use of a self-completed questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics and questions related to knowledge and attitude about influenza A/H1N1 and uptake of the relevant vaccine. The study sample (n=715) was selected by random stratification according to staff categories from five large hospitals in Attica, Greece.

RESULTS Of the 715 participants, 81.2% had not been vaccinated against influenza Α/ Η1Ν1, 63.2% did not advise other people to be vaccinated, and 56.8% advised against vaccination. The factors found to influence them in their decision to be vaccinated was age (p<0.0001), sex (p=0.026), medical specialty (p<0.0001), and for nursing staff, educational level (p<0.0001). The level of knowledge about the Η1Ν1 virus was found to be correlated to age (p=0.011) and educational level (p=0.011); specifically, a higher level of knowledge was shown by staff aged over 55 years, physicians in internal medicine and laboratory specialties and nurses with a university degree.

CONCLUSIONS The rate of adherence to the recommendations for vaccination for influenza Α/Η1Ν1 and the level of knowledge about the virus of hospital medical and nursing staff both differed significantly according to the specialty and educational level, showing that the information provided by the authorities did not take into account the specific needs of hospital staff. In the future, programs on the recommendation of vaccination should be designed so that the relevant information and prevention measures are effective for both staff and patients.

Key words: Influenza Α/Η1Ν1, Medical staff, Nursing staff, Vaccine.

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