Publications
| Influenza Vaccine: Usage, Effectiveness and Attitudes in House Staff |
Authors: R. T. LESTER, A. MCGEER, G. TOMLINSON, A. S. DETSKY;
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, Vancouver, BC, Canada, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Background: Vaccination is recommended for health care workers in contact with patients at risk of influenza complications. Our goal was to determine influenza vaccination rates, vaccine effectiveness and factors influencing vaccination decisions in house staff across residency programs.
Method: Cross sectional survey. All residents registered at the University of Toronto were surveyed in the months following the 1999-2000 influenza season. Of the 1159 surveys mailed, there were 670 (58%) evaluable replies.
Results: Influenza-like illnesses were reported by 36% of house staff. The vaccination rate among responders was 51%, highest in community and occupational medicine (77%) and pediatric house staff (75%) and lowest in psychiatry, surgery and radiology house staff (32%, 36% & 36%). The proportion with influenza-like illnesses (34% vs. 39%, p=.18), number of illnesses (42 vs. 54 per 100 subjects, p=.03) and days of illness (272 vs 374 per 100 subjects. p=.02), were reduced in those vaccinated; absenteeism was not (63 vs. 69 per 100 subjects, p=.69). Vaccinees believed the vaccine was more effective than non-vaccinees. Non-vaccinees considered influenza-like symptoms the most important vaccine side effect. Self-protection was the most common reason for vaccination. Busyness and inconvenience were the most common reasons for not getting vaccinated. Overall, 44% of house staff believed the influenza vaccine should be mandatory.
Conclusions: Influenza-like illness was common among house staff, who tend to work through their illnesses, with potential risk to patients. Self-protection was their primary motivation for vaccination, and those who were vaccinated did benefit. Busy schedules and the unfounded fear of getting influenza symptoms from the vaccine were the greatest obstacles. Many thought the vaccine should be mandatory.
Presented At:
45th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Washington, DC, 12/16/2005.
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1999 Microbiology Department, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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