Flu Vaccination Attitudes, Behaviours, and Knowledge among Health Workers

Arghittu, Antonella; Dettori, Marco; Azara, Antonio; Gentili, Davide; Serra, Antonello; Contu, Bruno; Castiglia, Paolo

doi:10.3390/ijerph17093185

Cited by 41 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…A person’s decision-making process regarding health choices is, indeed, strongly influenced by what they read online, especially in relation to health issues such as vaccination [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pandemic-related interruptions in vaccination services and conflicting information on the Internet about SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have further affected vaccination compliance [ 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Communication in COVID-19 Era: Experiences from the Italian VaccinarSì Network Websites

Arghittu

Dettori

Dempsey

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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In 2013, in a bid to combat Vaccine Hesitancy (VH) and provide information on vaccines by communicating with the general public and the health community (e.g., healthcare workers and public health operators), the Italian Society of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (S.It.I.) published the national website “VaccinarSì”. The project was subsequently extended to ten Italian Regions. This led to the creation of the VaccinarSì Network, whose websites are publicly owned. The aim of this work was to present the framework of the websites of the VaccinarSì Network and to analyse user behaviour in the pre-COVID-19-era (dating from each website’s publication until 31 January 2020) and in the COVID-19-era (from 1 February 2020 to 31 January 2021). Some metrics such as the number of visits to the site (sessions, number of users and average session duration), user behaviour (pages viewed, bounce rate and organic search) and the session acquisition path (direct traffic, referrals and social traffic) were searched, extrapolated and processed with Google Analytics. Qualitative and normally distributed quantitative variables were summarised with their absolute (relative) frequencies and means. Statistical differences between the means of the two periods were evaluated through paired t-test. A two-tailed p-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. When the total values recorded over the period were compared, an overall increase in metrics was observed—the number of individual users, visits and individual pageviews rose in a statistically significant way. Our study aimed to highlight how combining disciplines such as health education and digital communication via Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) represents the best strategy to support citizens. This approach gives them the tools to become independent and responsible players that are capable of voluntarily and consciously choosing to adhere to vaccination programs. The VaccinarSì Network’s goal for the future is to reach an even wider audience. By building each user’s critical knowledge, this network enables users to be active components of a wider, more empowered community.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Communication in COVID-19 Era: Experiences from the Italian VaccinarSì Network Websites

Arghittu

Dettori

Dempsey

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

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“…1 In our study, majority of the study population reported that they had known the risk groups for influenza vaccination. Although each risk category was not specified in this study, subjects with diseases of the hematopoietic organs or chronic circulatory, respiratory, or renal conditions, cohabitants of at-risk subjects, and people over 65 years of age were the mostly reported risk groups by the HCW responders in the study by Arghittu et al 6 While interpreting the results of this study, some limitations should be considered. This study was conducted in our tertiary care hospital in Turkey.…”

Section: Influenza Vaccinementioning

confidence: 88%

“…Vaccination of HCWs has been recommended by CDC since 1981. 3 Vaccination of doctors and nurses and reasons for barriers of nonvaccination have been widely investigated until now [4][5][6] However, vaccine candidate HCWs, including medical students and nurse trainees had insufficient knowledge, about flu and flu vaccination. In addition, Turkish caregivers are under-evaluated, too.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical Students, Nurse Trainees, and Pediatric Patients’ Caregivers About Influenza and Influenza Vaccination in Prepandemic Era

Kara¹,

Bacak²,

Aslan³

et al. 2020

Trends in Pediatrics

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INTRODUCTION: Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection influencing all aged people. Healthcare workers (HCWs) not only are vulnerable to influenza infection, but also act as a possible mediator for infection transmission. The best way to prevent influenza is annual vaccination. The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of medical students, nurse trainees, and pediatric patients’ caregivers about influenza and influenza vaccination in our tertiary hospital. METHODS: We performed the study between April 01, 2019 and June 01, 2019. The survey consisted of a 22-item questionnaire that included questions about the demographic properties, vaccination status, decisions and attitudes about the influenza disease and influenza vaccination. RESULTS: Among 600 participants 502 of them completed the survey (response rate: 83%). One hundred and fifty participants from each group, who fully completed the questionnaires were included in the study. Most of the study participants have never get flu vaccination before (p<0.001). It was seen that the difference between common cold and flu was better known by medical students and nurse trainees, than the caregivers (p<0.001). A higher percentage of caregivers agreed with the decision that flu could not disappear without using antibiotics (26.0% vs 5.3% and 6.7%) (p<0.001). Most of the participants declared the thought of unnecessity of vaccination, as influenza is a simple infection (p=0.05). Approximately half of the medical students, 70% of the nurse trainees, versus 46% of the caregivers reported that to experience a disease itself is better than vaccination against it (p=0.007). A higher proportion of caregivers noted that they heard or read about harmful effects of influenza vaccines on internet or social media (p=0.008). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study showed that most of the study participants did never get flu vaccination before. The difference between common cold and flu was better known by medical students and nurse trainees. A higher ratio of caregivers agreed that flu could not disappear without using antibiotics. Most of the participants declared the thought of unnecessity of vaccination. High percentage of participants had misinformation regarding influenza vaccines. A higher proportion of caregivers noted that they heard or read about harmful effects of influenza vaccines on internet or social media.

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“…Along the same lines Di Martino et al also considered the main reason for missing flu vaccination was the presumed uselessness of the vaccine [ 46 ]. In another research [ 47 ] it was observed that the anti-influenza vaccination coverage of HCWs in Italy is far below the minimum targets set. The authors consider the informative role of the occupational physicians as fundamental to increase the awareness of the potential of the flu vaccine.…”

Section: Infectious Diseases 1- Hand Washing; 2- Enterovirus; 3- Ostmentioning

confidence: 99%

Best practices, challenges and innovations in pediatrics in 2019

et al. 2020

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This paper runs through key progresses in epidemiology, pathomechanisms and therapy of various diseases in children that were issued in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics at the end of last year. Novel research and documents that explore areas such as allergy, critical care, endocrinology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, neonatology, neurology, nutrition, and respiratory tract illnesses in children have been reported. These observations will help to control childhood illnesses.

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Flu Vaccination Attitudes, Behaviours, and Knowledge among Health Workers

Cited by 41 publications

References 39 publications

Health Communication in COVID-19 Era: Experiences from the Italian VaccinarSì Network Websites

Health Communication in COVID-19 Era: Experiences from the Italian VaccinarSì Network Websites

The Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical Students, Nurse Trainees, and Pediatric Patients’ Caregivers About Influenza and Influenza Vaccination in Prepandemic Era

Best practices, challenges and innovations in pediatrics in 2019

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