Flu Vaccination among Healthcare Professionals in Times of COVID-19: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design
2.2. Setting and Sample
- o
- o
- Null hypothesis value: 52.00%
- o
- Significance: 0.05
- o
- Power: 80%
2.3. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Univariate Analysis
3.2. Multivariate Analysis
4. Discussion
4.1. Implications for Practice, Research and Policy
4.2. Limitations and Strengths
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Variable | N (%) or Median (DS) |
---|---|
Gender | |
Female | 550 (63.1%) |
Male | 322 (36.9%) |
Age | 41.7 (14.0) |
Length of service | 16.9 (13.3%) |
Lenght of service in the organization they work for | 12.8 (12.4%) |
Civil status | |
Cohabitant | 192 (22%) |
Single | 287 (32.9%) |
Separated or divorced | 58 (6.7%) |
Married | 335 (38.4%) |
Role | |
Physician | 446 (51.1%) |
Other healthcare worker | 126 (14.4%) |
Auxiliary | 14 (1.6%) |
Biologist | 23 (2.6%) |
Nurse | 232 (26.6%) |
Technician | 31 (3.6%) |
(a) | ||||||||||||
Variable | Influenza is a dangerous disease only for elderly people (age ≥ 65 years) and for those with previous illnesses | p | If I and/or my colleagues get sick with flu, difficulties may arise in reorganizing the staff shifts. | p | I can transmit the Influenza even if I am asymptomatic. | p | Flu is NOT a dangerous disease for healthy people. | p | ||||
Total | No | 278 (31.9) | 53 (6.1) | 153 (17.5) | 333 (38.2) | |||||||
Yes | 549 (68.1) | 819 (93.9) | 719 (82.5) | 539 (61.8) | ||||||||
Age | <40 | 249 (58.7) | <0.001 | 398 (93.9) | 0.979 | 382 (90.1) | <0.001 | 238 (56.1) | 0.001 | |||
>40 | 329 (77) | 401 (93.9) | 321 (75.2) | 285 (66.7) | ||||||||
Gender | F | 368 (66.9) | 0.316 | 522 (94.9) | 0.111 | 443 (80.5) | 0.053 | 342 (62.2) | 0.769 | |||
M | 226 (70.2) | 297 (92.2) | 276 (85.7) | 197 (61.2) | ||||||||
Civil status | Not married | 228 (66.1) | 0.297 | 327 (94.8) | 0.389 | 291 (84.3) | 0.234 | 208 (60.3) | 0.454 | |||
Married | 366 (69.4) | 492 (93.4) | 428 (81.2) | 331 (62.8) | ||||||||
Job title | Physicians | 305 (68.4) | 0.863 | 416 (93.3) | 0.412 | 381 (85.4) | 0.018 | 283 (63.5) | 0.307 | |||
Other Health Care Workers | 289 (67.8) | 403 (94.6) | 338 (79.3) | 256 (60.1) | ||||||||
(b) | ||||||||||||
Variable | Influenza vaccination is a professional responsibility for healthcare professionals, who can inadvertently transmit the flu, endangering patients lives. | p | I would voluntarily undergo flu vaccination to protect myself and the people I come in contact with. | p | I would have mandatory flu vaccination if it were offered directly at the workplace. | p | It’s fair that influenza vaccination is mandatory for healthcare professionals. | p | ||||
Total | No | 100 (11.5) | 91 (10.4) | 98 (11.2) | 225 (25.8) | |||||||
Yes | 772 (88.5) | 781 (89.6) | 774 (88.8) | 647 (74.2) | ||||||||
Age | ≤40 | 386 (91) | 0.020 | 383 (90.3) | 0.595 | 389 (91.7) | 0.017 | 321 (75.7) | 0.338 | |||
>40 | 367 (85.9) | 381 (89.2) | 370 (86.7) | 311 (72.8) | ||||||||
Gender | F | 483 (87.8) | 0.387 | 487 (88.5) | 0.198 | 477 (86.7) | 0.013 | 388 (70.5) | 0.001 | |||
M | 289 (89.8) | 294 (91.3) | 297 (92.2) | 259 (80.4) | ||||||||
Civil status | Not married | 314 (91) | 0.063 | 315 (91.3) | 0.174 | 312 (90.4) | 0.206 | 260 (75.4) | 0.525 | |||
Married | 458 (86.9) | 466 (88.4) | 462 (87.7) | 387 (73.4) | ||||||||
Job title | Physicians | 419 (93.9) | <0.001 | 423 (94.8) | <0.001 | 423 (94.8) | <0.001 | 378 (84.8) | <0.001 | |||
Other Health Care Workers | 353 (82.9) | 358 (84) | 351 (82.4) | 269 (63.1) | ||||||||
Variable | Forcing healthcare professionals to get vaccinated is unethical as it violates the individual’s choice. | p | Only elderly people (age ≥ 65 years) and those with previous illnesses should be required to undergo Influenza vaccination | p | Influenza vaccination should only be recommended for healthcare professionals | p | I do not have to be forced to undergo Influenza vaccination if I work in a low-risk Operating Unit. | p | ||||
Total | No | 517 (59.3) | 582 (66.7) | 588 (67.4) | 640 (73.4) | |||||||
Yes | 355 (40.7) | 290 (33.3) | 284 (32.6) | 232 (26.6) | ||||||||
Age | ≤40 | 158 (37.3) | 0.052 | 115 (27.1) | <0.001 | 133 (31.4) | 0.463 | 110 (25.9) | 0.578 | |||
>40 | 187 (43.8) | 169 (39.6) | 144 (33.7) | 118 (27.6) | ||||||||
Gender | F | 238 (43.3) | 0.044 | 182 (33.1) | 0.892 | 182 (33.1) | 0.667 | 163 (29.6) | 0.008 | |||
M | 117 (36.3) | 108 (33.5) | 102 (31.7) | 69 (21.4) | ||||||||
Civil status | Not married | 133 (38.6) | 0.293 | 107 (31) | 0.255 | 93 (27) | 0.004 | 92 (26.7) | 0.974 | |||
Married | 222 (42.1) | 183 (34.7) | 191 (36.2) | 140 (26.6) | ||||||||
Job title | Physicians | 128 (28.7) | <0.001 | 143 (32.1) | 0.444 | 138 (30.9) | 0.294 | 84 (18.8) | <0.001 | |||
Other Health Care Workers | 227 (53.3) | 147 (34.5) | 146 (34.3) | 148 (34.7) | ||||||||
(c) | ||||||||||||
Variable | I don’t have to undergo Influenza vaccination if I’m healty. | p | Healthcare professionals must promote vaccination because they are responsible for the citizen’s health education | p | I’m afraid of the Influenza vaccination’s side effects. | p | I’m afraid of injection | p | Health education programs organized in the structure where I work may be useful for me to learn about Influenza vaccination. | p | ||
Total | No | 649 (74.4) | 81 (9.3) | 695 (79.7) | 816 (93.6) | 136 (15.6) | ||||||
Yes | 223 (25.6) | 791 (90.7) | 177 (20.3) | 56(6.4) | 736 (84.4) | |||||||
Age | ≤40 | 98 (23.1) | 0.112 | 396 (93.4) | 0.010 | 64 (15.1) | <0.001 | 28(6.6) | 0.758 | 348 (82.1) | 0.101 | |
>40 | 119 (27.9) | 377 (88.3) | 107 (25.1) | 26(6.1) | 368 (86.2) | |||||||
Gender | F | 151 (27.5) | 0.096 | 490 (89.1) | 0.031 | 129 (23.5) | 0.002 | 39 (7.1) | 0.292 | 459 (83.5) | 0.313 | |
M | 72 (22.4) | 301 (93.5) | 48 (14.9) | 17 (5.3) | 277 (86) | |||||||
Civil status | Not married | 77 (22.3) | 0.075 | 322 (93.3) | 0.031 | 67 (19.4) | 0.602 | 31(9) | 0.012 | 294 (85.2) | 0.592 | |
Married | 146 (27.7) | 469 (89) | 110 (20.9) | 25 (4.7) | 442 (83.9) | |||||||
Job title | Physicians | 80 (17.9) | <0.001 | 431 (96.6) | <0.001 | 39 (8.7) | <0.001 | 23(5.2) | 0.119 | 375 (84.1) | 0.788 | |
Other Health Care Workers | 143 (33.6) | 360 (84.5) | 138 (32.4) | 33 (7.7) | 361 (84.7) | |||||||
Variable | It’s not necessary to undergo Influenza vaccination if you respect the hygiene rules (for example, washing your hands often, especially after sneezing/coughing or going to public places). | p | If I am vaccinated, I don’t risk transmitting flu to patients I take care of and to the people I come into contact with. | p | The Influenza vaccine can have dangerous side effects. | p | Influenza vaccination is important to prevent the disease. | p | Have you ever had the flu shot in your life? | p | ||
Total | No | 730 (83.7) | 211 (24.2) | 664 (76.1) | 49 (5.6) | 320 (36.7) | ||||||
Yes | 142 (16.3) | 661 (75.8) | 208 (23.9) | 823 (94.4) | 552 (63.3) | |||||||
Age | ≤40 | 71 (16.7) | 0.677 | 309 (72.9) | 0.070 | 93(21.9) | 0.249 | 403 (95) | 0.386 | 244 (57.5) | <0.001 | |
>40 | 67 (15.7) | 334 (78.2) | 108 (25.3) | 400 (93.7) | 293 (68.6) | |||||||
Gender | F | 98 (17.8) | 0.109 | 422 (76.7) | 0.405 | 135 (24.5) | 0.531 | 512 (93.1) | 0.031 | 342 (62.2) | 0.369 | |
M | 44 (13.7) | 239 (74.2) | 73 (22.7) | 311 (96.6) | 210 (65.2) | |||||||
Civil status | Not married | 64 (18.6) | 0.143 | 256 (74.2) | 0.372 | 79 (22.9) | 0.593 | 328 (95.1) | 0.473 | 212 (61.4) | 0.358 | |
Married | 78 (14.8) | 405 (76.9) | 129 (24.5) | 495 (93.9) | 340 (64.5) | |||||||
Job title | Physicians | 40(9) | <0.001 | 374 (83.9) | <0.001 | 64 (14.3) | <0.001 | 434 (97.3) | <0.001 | 331 (74.2) | <0.001 | |
Other Health Care Workers | 102 (23.9) | 287 (67.4) | 144 (33.8) | 389 (91.3) | 221 (51.9) |
(a) | |||||
Variable | Influenza is a dangerous disease only for elderly people (age ≥ 65 years) and for those with previous illnesses | Flu is NOT a dangerous disease for healthy people. | I can transmit the Influenza even if I am asymptomatic. | If I and/or my colleagues get sick with flu, difficulties may arise in reorganizing the staff shifts. | |
OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | ||
Gender Females (ref. Males) | - | - | 0.67 (0.45–1.00) | 1.57 (0.90–2.75) | |
Age over 40 (ref. under or equal to 40) | 1.69 (1.07–2.67) | - | 0.46 (0.26–0.81) | - | |
Married/Living with a partner (ref. Single, Divorced and Widowed) | - | - | - | - | |
Doctor (ref. other Health Care Workers) | - | - | 1.42 (0.98–2.05) | - | |
Lenght of service in the organization they work for | 1.56 (0.97–2.50) | 1.65 (1.24–2.18) | 0.63 (0.36–1.08) | - | |
(b) | |||||
Variable | Influenza vaccination is a professional responsibility for healthcare professionals, who can inadvertently transmit the flu, endangering patients lives. | I would voluntarily undergo flu vaccination to protect myself and the people I come in contact with. | I would have mandatory flu vaccination if it were offered directly at the workplace. | It’s fair that influenza vaccination is mandatory for healthcare professionals. | |
OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | ||
Gender Females (ref. Males) | - | - | 0.65 (0.40–1.08) | 0.71 (0.50–1.01) | |
Age over 40 (ref. ≤ 40) | - | - | - | - | |
Married/Living with a partner (ref. Single, Divorced and Widowed) | - | 0.67 (0.42–1.06) | - | - | |
Doctor (ref. other Health Care Workers) | 3.21 (2.01- 5.13) | 3.56 (2.17–5.85) | 3.61 (2.19–5.97) | 3.03 (2.18–4.22) | |
Lenght of service in the organization they work for | 0.45 (0.29–0.70) | - | 0.44 (0.28–0.68) | - | |
Variable | Forcing healthcare professionals to get vaccinated is unethical as it violates the individual’s choice. | Only elderly people (age ≥ 65 years) and those with previous illnesses should be required to undergo Influenza vaccination | Influenza vaccination should only be recommended for healthcare professionals | I do not have to be forced to undergo Influenza vaccination if I work in a low-risk Operating Unit. | |
OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | ||
Gender Females (ref. Males) | - | - | - | - | |
Age over 40 (ref. ≤ 40) | - | - | - | - | |
Married/Living with a partner (ref. Single, Divorced and Widowed) | - | - | 1.54 (1.15–2.08) | - | |
Doctor (ref. other Health Care Workers) | 0.35 (0.27–0.47) | - | - | 0.43 (0.32–0.59) | |
Lenght of service in the organization they work for | 1.40 (1.06–1.86) | 1.78 (1.34–2.36) | - | - | |
(c) | |||||
Variable | Influenza vaccination is important to prevent the disease. | It’s not necessary to undergo Influenza vaccination if you respect the hygiene rules (for example, washing your hands often, especially after sneezing/coughing or going to public places). | If I am vaccinated, I don’t risk transmitting flu to patients I take care of and to the people I come into contact with. | I’m afraid of the Influenza vaccination’s side effects. | |
OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | ||
Gender Females (ref. Males) | 0.54 (0.26–1.11) | - | 1.45 (1.04–2.04) | - | |
Age over 40 (ref. ≤ 40) | - | - | 1.47 (1.07–2.03) | 1.90 (1.33–2.71) | |
Married/Living with a partner (ref. Single, Divorced and Widowed) | - | - | - | - | |
Doctor (ref. other Health Care Workers) | 3.00 (1.52–5.91) | 0.32 (0.21–0.47) | 2.73 (1.96–3.82) | 0.20 (0.13–0.29) | |
Lenght of service in the organization they work for | - | - | - | - | |
Variable | I’m afraid of injection | The Influenza vaccine can have dangerous side effects. | Healthcare professionals must promote vaccination because they are responsible for the citizen’s health education | Health education programs organized in the structure where I work may be useful for me to learn about Influenza vaccination. | Have you ever had a flu shot in your life? |
OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | |
Gender Females (ref. Males) | - | - | - | - | - |
Age over 40 (ref. ≤ 40) | - | - | - | 2.15 (1.14–4.08) | 1.69 (1.27–2.25) |
Married/Living with a partner (ref. Single, Divorced and Widowed) | 0.50 (0.29–0.87) | - | 0.58 (0.34–1.00) | 0.82 (0.55–1.22) | |
Doctor (ref. other Health Care Workers) | - | 0.33 (0.24–0.46) | 5.49 (3.06–9.84) | - | 2.72 (2.04–3.63) |
Lenght of service in the organization they work for | - | - | 0.60 (0.37- 0.99) | 0.62 (0.33–1.18) | - |
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Colaprico, C.; Ricci, E.; Bongiovanni, A.; Imeshtari, V.; Barletta, V.I.; Manai, M.V.; Shaholli, D.; Marte, M.; Serruto, P.; La Torre, G. Flu Vaccination among Healthcare Professionals in Times of COVID-19: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior. Vaccines 2022, 10, 1341. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10081341
Colaprico C, Ricci E, Bongiovanni A, Imeshtari V, Barletta VI, Manai MV, Shaholli D, Marte M, Serruto P, La Torre G. Flu Vaccination among Healthcare Professionals in Times of COVID-19: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior. Vaccines. 2022; 10(8):1341. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10081341
Chicago/Turabian StyleColaprico, Corrado, Eleonora Ricci, Andrea Bongiovanni, Valentin Imeshtari, Vanessa India Barletta, Maria Vittoria Manai, David Shaholli, Mattia Marte, Pasquale Serruto, and Giuseppe La Torre. 2022. "Flu Vaccination among Healthcare Professionals in Times of COVID-19: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior" Vaccines 10, no. 8: 1341. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10081341