Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena

Abstract

Background: Influenza is a highly contagious disease and a cause of morbidity and mortality. Although influenza vaccination is still the best method to reduce the spread of the virus, nurses’ rate vaccination is very low.

Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate nurses‘ rate of vaccination coverage and the factors that influence nurses decision to get vaccinated or not.

Methods: It is a cross-sectional study. Data collection has been made through the use of an anonymous questionnaire, distributed to the nursing staff of the University Hospital Policlinico in Modena and of the Urology Division at the New Civil Hospital S. Agostino-Estense in Modena. The survey period extended from the 30th of June to the 13th of October 2016.

Results: 595 out of 908 nurses enrolled in the survey responded to the questionnaire. The rate of adhesion to influenza vaccination is 8.4%. The main reasons given for vaccination refusal are being little exposed to infection (49.5%), not thinking of themselves at risk of severe forms of influenza disease (17.6%), the perception of the poor efficacy of the vaccine (17.4%) and not thinking of themselves more exposed to the infection than other people (17.1%). The most common reasons for vaccination adhesion are being in favor of vaccinations in general (46%), the will to protect their own family from the infection (32%) and thinking of themselves more exposed to the infection than other people (26%)
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Conclusion: Nurses have a low perception of their professional responsibilities and of the risk that flu represents for their patients.

Keywords: influenza, vaccination, nurses.