Pattern of exposure to information and its impact on seasonal influenza vaccination uptake in nurses.

BACKGROUND: Uptake of annual influenza vaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) varies, and remains at a suboptimal level in many countries. As HCWs are often exposed to a variety of information about vaccination, the pattern of exposure may impact their decision; this deserves further investigation. METHODS: Practising nurses in Hong Kong were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey in February 2016, after the winter seasonal peak. The questionnaire covered demographics, work nature and experiences, vaccination uptake history and reasons for vaccination decisions. Two behavioural categories for access to information were defined - passive exposure to information and active information-seeking - differentiated by the source, type and nature of information accessed. Chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U-test and logistic regression were performed to compare vaccinated and unvaccinated nurses. RESULTS: In total, 1177 valid returns were received from nurses. The median age of respondents was 32 years and 86% were female. The overall vaccination rate was 33%. Passive exposure to information from the workplace, professional body and social network was not predictive of vaccination decision, but passive exposure to information from mass media was predictive [odds ratio (OR) 1.78]. Active information-seeking, such as consulting a senior (OR 2.46), organizing promotional activities (OR 2.85) and undertaking an information search (OR 2.43), was significantly associated with increased vaccination uptake. A cumulative effect could be demonstrated for active information-seeking (OR 1.86), but not for passive exposure to information. CONCLUSION: The current strategy of promotions and campaigns for seasonal influenza vaccination in HCWs may not be effective in increasing vaccination coverage. Measures targeting information-seeking behaviours may serve as an alternative approach.

Non-compliance to infectious disease deferral criteria among Hong Kong's blood donors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Donor screening alone cannot eliminate the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV infection. Donor deferral according to established criteria is a supplemental strategy, which has focused largely on men who have sex with men (MSM). A study was conducted to determine the compliance of non-MSM donors with such criteria and examine its implications on blood safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chinese donors who have just donated blood at blood donor centres in Hong Kong were recruited. Based on the contents of the routinely administered predonation Health Screening Questionnaires, participants were requested to complete a survey to assess their practice of deferrable risk behaviours and lifestyle encounters, using tablet computers. RESULTS: Over an 8-week period in mid-2016, 1614 donors (male-to-female ratio 1·23) had enrolled in the survey, accounting for 40% of donors giving blood on the survey days. The proportion of respondents who gave blood despite having deferrable HIV risk was 5%: MSM 1·2% (of the male donors); non-MSM risk behaviours 2·6%; risky lifestyle encounters 2·1%. If inconsistent declaration and suspected risk behaviours were included, the total non-compliance rate became 10·8%. Male donors had a higher prevalence of deferrable behavioural risk, even after excluding MSM. Unawareness and non-acceptability were main reasons for non-compliance. CONCLUSION: The non-compliance rate of donors to deferral was high, although the ultimate infection risk might be small in the presence of universal screening. Simplification of questionnaires, focus on time-limited deferral and a reduction of deferral items may improve the deferral mechanism without compromising blood safety.