Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T09:55:51.207Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Healthcare Workers' Knowledge and Attitudes About Pertussis and Pertussis Vaccination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

William P. Goins*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
William Schaffner
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee Department of Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
Kathryn M. Edwards
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinical Research Office, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
Thomas R. Talbot
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee Department of Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
*
Vanderbilt University, A-2200 MCN, 1161 21st Avenue North, Nashville, TN, 37232 ([email protected])

Abstract

Objective.

To determine knowledge and attitudes about pertussis and pertussis vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs).

Design.

Self-administered, Web-based survey.

Setting.

Tertiary-care academic medical center.

Participants.

Medical center employees who participated in direct patient care were recruited to complete the survey through institutional e-mail.

Results.

Of 14,893 potentially eligible employees, 1,819 (12%) completed the survey. Most respondents (87%) did not plan to receive the pertussis vaccine. Intent to receive vaccination (which included recent history of vaccination) was associated with the following 4 factors: receipt of a physician recommendation for vaccination (odds ratio [OR], 9.01), awareness of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for pertussis vaccination for HCWs (OR, 6.89), receipt of encouragement to be vaccinated from a coworker (OR, 4.72), the belief that HCWs may spread pertussis to patients and family (OR, 1.80). Two factors were negatively associated with intent to receive vaccination: the presence of children in the HCW's home (OR, 0.69) and employment as a nurse (OR, 0.59). Reasons cited by those who did not intend to receive vaccination included lack of a personal recommendation for vaccination (78%), receipt of vaccination as a child (51%), and perception that there was no significant risk for contracting pertussis (38%).

Conclusions.

Of the HCWs surveyed, only 13% intended to receive the pertussis vaccine. A perceived lack of recommendation for vaccination and inaccurate conceptions about pertussis and pertussis vaccination were cited as reasons HCWs did not intend to be vaccinated. Institutional pertussis vaccination campaigns should focus on the risks of healthcare-associated pertussis and new recommendations for pertussis vaccination.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Jajosky, RA, Hall, PA, Adams, DA, et al.;Centers for Disease Control. Summary of notifiable diseases—United States, 2004. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2006;53:179.Google ScholarPubMed
2.Wright, SW, Decker, MD, Edwards, KM. Incidence of pertussis infection in healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999;20:120123.Google Scholar
3.De Serres, G, Shadmani, R, Duval, B, et al. Morbidity of pertussis in adolescents and adults. J Infect Dis 2000;182:174179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Deville, JG, Cherry, JD, Christenson, PD, et al. Frequency of unrecognized Bordetella pertussis infections in adults. Clin Infect Dis 1995;21:639642.Google Scholar
5.Kurt, TL, Yeager, AS, Guenette, S, Dunlop, S. Spread of pertussis by hospital staff. JAMA 1972;221:264267.Google Scholar
6.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreaks of pertussis associated with hospitals—Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Oregon, 2003. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2005;54:6771.Google Scholar
7.Addiss, DG, Davis, JP, Meade, BD, et al. A pertussis outbreak in a Wisconsin nursing home. Infect Dis 1991;164:704710.Google Scholar
8.Bassinet, L, Matrat, M, Njamkepo, E, Aberrane, S, Housset, B, Guiso, N. Nosocomial pertussis outbreak among adult patients and healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2004;25:995997.Google Scholar
9.Boulay, BR, Murray, CJ, Ptak, J, Kirkland, KB, Montero, J, Talbot, EA. An outbreak of pertussis in a hematology-oncology care unit: implications for adult vaccination policy. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2006;27:9295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Gehanno, JF, Pestel-Caron, M, Nouvellon, M, Caillard, JF. Nosocomial pertussis in healthcare workers from a pediatric emergency unit in France. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999;20:549552.Google Scholar
11.Karino, T, Osaki, K, Nakano, E, Okimoto, N. A pertussis outbreak in a ward for the severely retarded [in Japanese]. Kansenshogaku Zasshi 2001;75:916922.Google Scholar
12.Steketee, RW, Wassilak, SG, Adkins, WN Jr, et al. Evidence for a high attack rate and efficacy of erythromycin prophylaxis in a pertussis outbreak in a facility for the developmentally disabled. J Infect Dis 1988;157:434440.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Weber, DJ, Rutala, WA. Pertussis: an underappreciated risk for nosocomial outbreaks. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1998;19:825828.Google Scholar
14.Ward, JI, Cherry, JD, Chang, SJ, et al. Efficacy of an acellular pertussis vaccine among adolescents and adults. N Engl J Med 2005;353:15551563.Google Scholar
15.Broder, KR, Cortese, MM, Iskander, JK, et al. Preventing tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis among adolescents: use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2006;55:134.Google ScholarPubMed
16.Kretsinger, K, Broder, KR, Cortese, MM, et al. Preventing tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis among adults: use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and a cellular pertussis vaccine: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and recommendation of ACIP, supported by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), for use of Tdap among healthcare personnel. MMWR Recomm Rep 2006;55:133.Google Scholar
17.Cowan, AE, Winston, CA, Davis, MM, Wortley, PM, Clark, SJ. Influenza vaccination status and influenza-related perspectives and practices among US physicians. Am J Infect Control 2006;34:164169.Google Scholar
18.Nichol, KL, Hauge, M. Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1997;18:189194.Google Scholar
19.Martinello, RA, Jones, L, Topal, JE. Correlation between healthcare workers' knowledge of influenza vaccine and vaccine receipt. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24:845847.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Manuel, DG, Henry, B, Hockin, J, Naus, M. Health behavior associated with influenza vaccination among healthcare workers in long-term care facilities. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2002;23:609614.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Steiner, M, Vermeulen, LC, Mullahy, J, Hayney, MS. Factors influencing decisions regarding influenza vaccination and treatment: a survey of healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2002;23:625627.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22.Beguin, C, Boland, B, Ninane, J. Health care workers: vectors of influenza virus? Low vaccination rate among hospital health care workers. Am J Med Qual 1998;13:223227.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23.Heimberger, T, Chang, H, Shaikh, M, Crotty, L, Morse, D, Birkhead, G. Knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers about influenza: why are they not getting vaccinated? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1995;16:412414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24.Toy, WC, Janosky, JE, Laird, SB. Influenza immunization of medical residents: knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Am J Infect Control 2005;33:473475.Google Scholar
25.LaVela, SL, Smith, B, Weaver, FM, Legro, MW, Goldstein, B, Nichol, K. Attitudes and practices regarding influenza vaccination among healthcare workers providing services to individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2004;25:933940.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26.Weingarten, S, Riedinger, M, Bolton, LB, Miles, P, Ault, M. Barriers to influenza vaccine acceptance: a survey of physicians and nurses. Am J Infect Control 1989;17:202207.Google Scholar
27.Ballada, D, Biasio, LR, Cascio, G, et al. Attitudes and behavior of health care personnel regarding influenza vaccination. Eur J Epidemiol 1994;10:6368.Google Scholar
28.National Immunization Program. Record of the meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. February 21-22, 2006. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;2006. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ACIP/minutes.htm. Accessed January 30, 2007.Google Scholar
29.Fishbein, M, Triandis, HC, Kanfer, FH, Becker, M, Middlestadt, SE, Eichler, A. Factors Influencing Behavior and Behavior Change. Final report prepared for NIMH Theorists' Workshop. Washington, DC: National Institute of Mental Health;1991.Google Scholar