Patient and family education in HSCT: improving awareness of respiratory virus infection and influenza vaccination. A descriptive study and brief intervention

Abstract

To prevent respiratory virus (RV) infection after hematopoietic SCT (HSCT), patient and household members are advised to have annual influenza vaccinations and avoid symptomatic contacts. The object of this study was to measure and increase patient/household awareness of RV infection and preventive measures. We used a selfadministered questionnaire before/after a 5-min educational module (2006)(2007) and interviews with HSCT patients (2005with HSCT patients ( -2007. The subjects were patients and their households attending pre-HSCT education in an Australian HSCT Unit. Outcome measures were awareness of RV infection post-HSCT and effective prevention strategies; household influenza vaccination on admission for HSCT. In all, 139 out of 205 (68%) participants completed both questionnaires. Baseline knowledge of RV infection risk was high; knowledge of prevention was low. Intervention increased awareness that influenza post-HSCT could be fatal or require intensive care (68-87%, P ¼ 0.003), knowledge of effective prevention strategies (41-78%, Po0.0001) including vaccination (11-58%, Po0.0001), and belief among family/friends (but not patients) that household vaccination reduces influenza risk post-HSCT (57-97%, Po0.0001 and 76-81%, P ¼ 0.2, respectively). Household vaccination at HSCT admission was 71% for attenders and 30% for non-participants (RR 2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49-3.80, Po0.0001). We concluded that patient and family pre-HSCT education increases awareness of RV prevention strategies and household influenza vaccination.

Infection Prevention and Control Guideline for Cystic Fibrosis: 2013 Update

“…The importance of knowledge, skills, and attitudes in educating individuals to change behavior has been described in the CF community 381,382 as well as for healthcare personnel. [383][384][385][386][387] Knowledge, or facts, can be taught using didactic or case-based methods at the bedside or in the clinic. Adults learn best if they perceive the relevance of the information to their personal situation and are provided with the rationale.…”

Trouble in the Gap: A Bioethical and Sociological Analysis of Informed Consent for High-Risk Medical Procedures

“…All were involved in consultations, were encouraged to attend education days, and received printed information, and each chose to engage with or ignore these educational measures according to their individual preferences. In fact, according to one evaluation, only 57 percent of patients attended the information day sessions (Ferguson, Jordens, and Gilroy 2010). These patients said nothing in their interviews that would indicate they were aware that the health care professionals treating them had strong expectations that the patients had a responsibility to engage with these educational measures, however.…”

“…Patients also are provided with electronic and printed materials (e.g., Bone Marrow Transplant Network NSW 2006) and are invited to attend information sessions at the hospital that combine formal presentations by members of the transplant team and transplant survivors, with informal opportunities to talk to the presenters. These information sessions are formally evaluated and are described elsewhere (Ferguson, Jordens, and Gilroy 2010).…”

Characteristics of Transplant Recipients Who Developed Influenza in 2007-08 Despite Influenza Vaccination

“…An adjuvanted 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 vaccine was less immunogenic in SOT recipients than healthy controls [42]. Influenza vaccination of health care providers [43] and household contacts [44] of transplant candidate and recipients is imperative to create a "circle of protection" around this vulnerable population. A recent study showed that influenza vaccination of children and adolescents with inactivated influenza vaccine significantly protected even unimmunized residents of rural communities [45].…”