ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Influenza vaccination uptake by Irish healthcare workers remains sub-optimal despite local initiatives to increase it. AIMS: To investigate hospital workers' attitudes to influenza vaccination and how this influenced their decisions about vaccination. METHODS: A questionnaire survey of Irish hospital workers, measuring uptake of and attitudes to influenza vaccination. RESULTS: There were 747 responders, of whom 361 (48%) reported having received influenza vaccination. Attitudes predicting vaccination uptake included a belief that vaccination would protect family members (P < 0.0005, CI 1.191-1.739), a perception of susceptibility to 'flu (P < 0.0005, CI 1.182-1.685), a belief that all healthcare workers should be vaccinated (P < 0.005, CI 1.153-1.783), perceived ease of getting 'flu vaccination at work (P < 0.0005, CI 1.851-2.842) and encouragement by line managers (P < 0.05, CI 1.018-1.400). Attitudes negatively associated with vaccination uptake included fear of needles (P < 0.05, CI 0.663-0.985) and a belief that vaccination would cause illness (P < 0.0005, CI 0.436-0.647). Medical staff were significantly more likely to be vaccinated. Healthcare students were least likely to be vaccinated (P < 0.0005). CONCLUSION: Addressing specific barriers to influenza vaccination in healthcare workers may improve uptake.
Subject(s)
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Influenza Vaccines , Personnel, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Vaccination/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Family , Female , Humans , Influenza, Human/prevention & control , Injections/psychology , Ireland , Male , Middle Aged , Personnel, Hospital/psychology , Students/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Vaccination/psychologySubject(s)
Emergency Service, Hospital , Stress, Psychological , Work/psychology , Adult , Female , Humans , Ireland , Job Satisfaction , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
A review of the routine six week post-natal examination of the well-baby was performed. Eighty-one percent of infants born in the Rotunda attended for a hospital based review during the study period and 42% of these had experienced some problem during the six weeks from birth (rashes 20%, snuffles 10.7%, irritability 7.6% and eye infections, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, cyanotic/breath holding episodes). These problems were dealt with by the hospital outpatient department (55%), the mothers themselves (30%), general practitioners (12.5%) and public health nurses (2.5%). Significant problems not detected at birth were present in 12 infants (3%) and eight infants (2%) required hospital admission. This review illustrates a relatively low rate of problems not previously detected and that the majority of problems arising in the first six weeks of life require advice alone. There is also clearly scope for improving the community based services and increasing their involvement in this aspect of infant health.
