Study identifies factors influencing health care worker vaccinations

Groningen, Netherlands – Health care workers are more likely to receive the seasonal flu vaccine because they believe it is effective, rather than out of concern for patients, according to research from the University of Groningen.

In a review of 13 studies involving almost 85,000 health care workers in North America, Europe and Australia, researchers found several factors corresponded with a twofold increase in vaccinations. Those factors included knowing the vaccine works, being willing to prevent transmission, believing the flu is highly contagious or that prevention is important, and having a family that is usually vaccinated, according to the study abstract.

Conversely, factors such as protecting patients, previous experience with the flu and contact with children had little impact on their decision.

The study was published in the April issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.