Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of occupational physicians towards vaccinations of health care workers: A cross sectional pilot study in North-Eastern Italy

• Authors: Matteo Riccò , Silvia Cattani , Franca Casagranda , Giovanni Gualerzi , Carlo Signorelli

Abstracts

EN

Objectives This study aims to characterize personal attitudes and knowledge of a sample of Italian occupational physicians (OPhs) towards immunization practice in the case of healthcare workers (HCWs). Material and Methods A total of 90 OPhs (42.2% of males, 57.8% of females, mean age of 50.1±8.3 years old) compiled a structured questionnaire through a telephonic interview. They were asked about the official Italian recommendations for HCWs, their general knowledge of vaccine practice, their propensity towards vaccines (both in general and about specific immunizations), their risk perception about the vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. Eventually, a regression analysis was performed in order to identify factors predictive for vaccine propensity. Results Only 12 out of 90 subjects correctly identified all the 7 recommended immunizations. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine was correctly identified by 95.6% of the sample, and was also associated with the more positive attitude and the more accurate risk perception. Influenza vaccine had the lowest acceptance (75.9%). Eventually, pertussis, measles, parotitis and varicella vaccines were insufficiently recognized as recommended ones (all cases < 50% of the sample). General knowledge of vaccine and knowledge of official recommendations were significantly correlated with the attitude towards immunization practice (r = 0.259, p = 0.014 and r = 0.438, p < 0.0001). In the regression analysis general knowledge (unstandardized coefficient (B) = 0.300, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.090–0.510, p = 0.006) and risk perception (B = 0.579, 95% CI: 0.155–1.003, p = 0.008) were significant predictors of the propensity to vaccinate. Conclusions Vaccinations gaps in HCWs may found their roots in OPhs incomplete knowledge of evidence-based recommendations. Specific training programs and formations courses should then be planned. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(5):775–790

Keywords

EN

occupational infection; healthcare workers; immunization; occupational physician; vaccination recommendation; vaccine hesitancy

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2017
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 775-790

Dates

published

2017

Contributors

author

Matteo Riccò

• Provincial Agency for Health Services, Trento, Italy (Department of Prevention, Occupational Health and Safety Unit)

author

Silvia Cattani

• University of Parma, Parma, Italy (School of Nursing Sciences, Department of Clinical Surgery, General Surgery and Surgical Therapy)

author

Franca Casagranda

• Provincial Agency for Health Services, Trento, Italy (Department of Prevention, Unit for Health Promotion and Education, Lifestyle Surveillance)

author

Giovanni Gualerzi

• University of Parma, Parma, Italy (School of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine)

author

Carlo Signorelli

• University of Parma, Parma, Italy (Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences (SBiBiT))

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00895

Biblioteka Nauki

2161892