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Identifier

000438300

Title

Γνώσεις και στάσεις νέων ιατρών και φοιτητών Ιατρικής και Νοσηλευτικής για τον εμβολιασμό των υγειονομικών

Alternative Title

Awareness and attitudes of residents and medical/nursing students regarding vaccination of Health Care Professionals

Author

Κακατσάκη, Ιωάννα

Select a value

Βεργαδή, Ελένη

Reviewer

Γαλανάκης, Εμμανουήλ
Παρασκάκης, Εμμανουήλ

Abstract

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are at increased risk of acquiring infections at work and further transmitting them to their patients and colleagues. Vaccinations of HCPs is a key measure of infection control in healthcare facilities. However, vaccination uptake rates for HCPs remain suboptimal. Mandatory vaccination policies have been occasionally implemented to increase compliance among HCPs, but this remains an issue of controversy. The purpose of this survey was to assess the attitudes and beliefs of young physicians and nurses towards mandatory vaccination and further explore their knowledge and vaccination coverage against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the University General Hospital of Heraklion (PAGNI) from the beginning of October till the end of December, 2020. An anonymous questionnaire was validated and distributed to all medical and nursing trainees. Trainees consisted of medical residents as well as medical and nursing students undergoing their clinical training. In total, 410 healthcare workers participated (response rate: 87.2%), of whom, 194 residents, 154 medical and 62 nursing students. Their mean age was 26.7 years and 245/410 (59.8%) were women. The majority 320/410 (78% in total; 75.8% of residents, 83.8% of medical students and 71% of nursing students) supported mandatory vaccination policies for HCPs and 84.6% (271/320) of participants believed that immunization should be a prerequisite for employment. Moreover, almost all the participants 294/320 (91.9%) mentioned that mandatory vaccination promotes the "common good". The most common reasons for complying with influenza vaccination were the desire to protect oneself and one’s family and the desire to protect their patients. Vaccination coverage was suboptimal; students had lower vaccination rates against influenza, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella as compared to residents (odds ratio <1, p<0.05). One third of our study group (34.1%, 140/410) stated that they had not been informed on the suggested vaccinations for HCPs, neither by the Hospital nor the University. Higher mean knowledge scores were reported in medical students (69.7%, 6/9 questions) compared to residents (64.8%) and nursing students (57.5%). The level of knowledge and vaccination coverage were higher in internal medicine residents compared to their peers of surgical or non-clinical specialties. Based on the beliefs and attitudes of healthcare workers surveyed, this study demonstrates that mandatory vaccination policies are generally supported by the next generation practitioners. Constant education of HCPs may affect their attitudes towards vaccinations and raise their vaccination coverage. The implementation of mandatory vaccination policies in healthcare institutions may be a feasible approach in the future.

Language

Greek

Subject

Mandatory vaccination

Vaccination coverage

Εμβολιαστική κάλυψη

Επαγγελματίες υγείας

Issue date

2021-03-29

Collection

School/Department--School of Medicine--Department of Medicine--Post-graduate theses

Type of Work--Post-graduate theses