Research On Knowledge, Attitude, Practice And Influencing Factors About Seasonal Influenza And Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Among Healthcare Workers In Qingdao City

Background:The influenza (flu) is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Influenza can aggravate underlying disease (heart and lung disease) or cause secondary bacterial pneumonia or primary influenza viral pneumonia. The incidence rate, the death toll as well as economic losses caused by the Influenza disease are always at head of infectious diseases. Healthcare workers (HCWs) often contact with flu patients at work and the workplace is relatively closed, they are a high-risk population exposed to the influenza virus, influenza not only cause damage on their health, but it is likely to make them become a source of infection, passing the virus to patients and other medical personnel, and even leading to nosocomial transmission of influenza and hospital influenza outbreaks. Influenza vaccination is the most effective means to prevention and control influenza. Influenza vaccination can reduce the chance of getting influenza or alleviate influenza symptoms and reduce labor and productivity losses due to influenza and its complications. However, HCWs’influenza vaccination rate is still very low. Therefore, it has important practical significance and far-reaching historical significance to understand HCWs’knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding seasonal influenza and seasonal influenza vaccine.Objective:This study investigated knowledge, attitude, practice and influencing factors about seasonal influenza and seasonal influenza vaccine among HCWs in Qingdao to reach objectives as follows:1. Understanding HCWs’knowledge, attitude and practice regarding seasonal influenza and seasonal influenza vaccine.2. Exploring influencing factors for HCWs’knowledge, attitude and vaccination rate regarding influenza and influenza vaccine.3. Discovering problems and deficiencies of the current vaccination policy to provide practical basis for policy makers.Methods:Using survey data "knowledge, attitude and practice survey of healthcare workers on influenza and influenza vaccine" of China National Health Development Research Center. Stratified cluster sampling was adopted and 1301 HCWs were chosen as research objects. Questionnaire was designed and used to do the investigation among 1301 HCWs. Descript social demographic characteristics, HCWs’ knowledge, attitude and practice regarding influenza and influenza vaccine. Chi-square test and logistic regression model were used for analyzing influencing factors of HCWs’knowledge, attitude and influenza vaccination.Results:l.The average correctness rate of related knowledge of influenza and influenza vaccine among HCWs was 52.3%,the lowest rate was 19.8%.41.5 percent of the sample got low cognitive score on influenza and influenza vaccine knowledge. Hospital levels, occupations, medical care settings, the initiative to understand knowledge and the level of mastery of flu vaccine information have a statistically significant difference.2. There are some misunderstandings in the HCWs’attitude towards seasonal influenza vaccine. Only 42.6% (552/1301) of the HCWs considered influenza vaccine safe,38.0% (495/1301) of them worried about side effects of the vaccine, and 8.7% (113/1301) believed flu vaccine can cause the flu. Medical care settings, the initiative to understand the knowledge, the level of mastery of flu vaccine information and vaccination history have a statistically significant difference.3. Only 4.8% (63/1301) of the HCWs had vaccinated influenza vaccine during the 2013-2014 influenza season. The main reason for not being vaccinated, which was given by 43.4% of respondents, concerned side effects. Multivariate analysis showed factors associated with vaccination rates included hospital levels, medical care settings, vaccination history, pre-season intention to be vaccinated, worry about getting flu in the flu season, anticipated worry if no flu shot, anticipated regret if no flu shot and get flu.Conclusion and Suggestions:Conclusion:1. The current level of knowledge and attitude about seasonal influenza and seasonal influenza vaccine among HCWs in Qingdao is low.2. In Qingdao influenza vaccination rates among HCWs remain very low. There are differences in vaccination rate between hospital levels, medical care settings.3. The main reason for the HCWs not accepting vaccination was concerned side effects of the vaccine.4. HCWs’ attitudes and psychological factors about flu vaccine affect vaccination behavior. Having high pre-season vaccination intention and prior vaccination history will more likely accept vaccination.5. Free and compulsory vaccination policy can improve HCWs’ vaccination intention.Suggestions:1.Strengthening the propaganda and education on flu and flu vaccine.2. Improving HCWs’ vaccination availability.3. Compensation mechanism of free vaccination or vaccination payment covered into medical insurance for HCWs should be carried out.4. Improving HCWs’ emotional benefits of influenza vaccine.5. Implementing influenza vaccine mandatory vaccination policies for HCWs.