Facilitators for influenza vaccination uptake in nurses at the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Objective: Influenza is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to identify facilitators for vaccination in nursing staff at the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Method: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among nurses between November 2005 and February 2006.

Results: The response rate was 100%. Sixty-one percent (89/145) of nurses reported that they had continued working while sick with an influenza-like illness, and 21% (35/166) of nurses had been vaccinated for the current season. The most common reasons given for uptake of the current influenza vaccine were the belief that they were at risk of influenza due to the nature of their work (80%, 28/35), and concern about transmitting influenza to their patients (31%, 11/35). Vaccinated nurses were 3.4 times more likely [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-11.7; P = 0.05] to have the intention to be vaccinated next season than unvaccinated nurses. Respondents who intended to be vaccinated next season were 10.3 times more likely (95% CI 4.4-23.2; P = 0.000) to recommend the vaccine to their family and coworkers, and 4.6 times more likely (95% CI 1.9-11.0; P = 0.001) to recommend vaccination to their patients.

Conclusion: Free of charge and widely available vaccination programmes, and the belief that nurses are at risk of influenza due to the nature of their work improve vaccination uptake among nurses, and thereby reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infection in susceptible patient populations.