Worker vaccination policy misinformation prevalent at hospitals: study

Baltimore – Misinformation regarding hospital worker vaccination policies is widespread and may influence worker behavior, indicates new research from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

In a survey of 928 hospital staff members at an academic medical center, 91 percent of respondents with regular patient contact said they received the influenza vaccination in 2008-2009, but only 60 percent reported consistent annual vaccination, according to a study abstract.

Of vaccinated workers, 8 percent were vaccinated for the first time that influenza season.

Although the hospital adopted a stricter vaccination policy, 42 percent of respondents were unaware of the change. Attitudes toward the policy varied by race and clinical role, prompting researchers to conclude that increasing the vaccination rate will require a multifaceted approach targeted to specific groups.

The study appeared in the May issue of the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.