Healthcare professionals' beliefs regarding influenza vaccination: What has COVID-19 changed?

Background: Influenza poses a potential public health threat among healthcare professionals since an infected healthcare professional can spread the virus to patients at higher risk as well as his/her own family members and colleagues. Annual influenza vaccination is the most effective way to protect HCPs. Aim: This study was conducted to determine whether demand for and beliefs about influenza vaccination have changed among healthcare professionals in the COVID-19 era and the factors that might have influenced them in the early phase of the pandemic when COVID-19 vaccines were eagerly awaited. Patients and Methods: This observational descriptive study was conducted between November 16, and December 15, 2020. A total of 317 healthcare professionals completed an online survey. Bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: Nineteen (6.0%) healthcare professionals were regularly vaccinated against influenza every year, and 199 (62.8%) had never been vaccinated. During the 2019-2020 season, 30 (9.5%) participants had been vaccinated and the proportion desiring to be vaccinated against influenza during the 2020-2021 season was 49.8% (n = 158). The results revealed that those with chronic diseases, those who believed they had adequate information about influenza vaccination and those who believed healthcare professionals should be vaccinated against influenza regularly every year, respectively, had 3.5 times, 4.7 times, and 11 times higher vaccination rates. Conclusion: Although the proportion of healthcare professionals with the intention to be vaccinated for influenza increased with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still not high enough. Influenza vaccination rates should be promoted by in-service training programs.

The Impact of Event and Optimism as the Predictors of Post-Traumatic Growth

During the COVID pandemic, online education in universities in Turkey and many countries continued. During this period, it was curious how many preservice teachers were affected by the pandemic, which is considered a traumatic experience. This study aimed to examine the predictive effects of the COVID pandemic and optimism on post-traumatic growth in preservice teachers. The study group consisted of 801 preservice teachers studying at Ondokuz Mayis University who were reached through the convenience sampling method. Impact of Event Scale, The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and Optimism Scale were used as data collection tools. Pearson Moments Correlation analysis showed that post-traumatic growth was positively correlated with the impact of event and optimism, while optimism was negatively correlated with the impact of event. According to hierarchical regression analysis results, it was found that optimism and impact of event predicted post-traumatic growth significantly and explained 31% of post-traumatic growth. According to one-way MANOVA results, it was found that female preservice teachers were significantly more affected by the COVID pandemic when compared with male preservice teachers, and female preservice teachers had significantly higher post-traumatic growth levels than males. According to two-way MANOVA results, it was found that preservice teachers who received online psychological support during the COVID pandemic were more affected by the event, and they had lower optimism levels. It was also found that preservice teachers who turned to spirituality had lower impact of event levels and higher post-traumatic growth and optimism levels.