Medical Staff Knowledge about Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Karbala Hospitals - Iraq | ||
| IRAQI JOURNALOF COMMUNITY MEDICINE | ||
| Article 1, Volume 29, Issue 1, March 2016, Pages 5-10 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Muntassir K Saod; Jamal M Alkhudhairi | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Seasonal influenza is an acute highly infectious viral infection. Its short incubation period, and efficient person to person transmission, makes it hazardous to patients and staff in health care facilities. Doctors are often exposed to influenza during their work, acting as vectors, passing infection to patients. Influenza vaccines can be either trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, or Live attenuated influenza vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines are valid for one year only, because of the need to adapt (update) the vaccine strain to the changing circulating field virus. Vaccine efficacy for healthy adults and most children ranges (80-100) %. Seasonal influenza control plan in Iraq targets those with chronic disease, pilgrims, & all health care workers. Aim of the study: As this vaccine is new in Iraq, this research aims to determine medical staff knowlegde level for using the vaccine in preventive programs. Subjects & methods: A cross sectional study conducted in conveniently selected 7 health institutes in Karbala / Iraq, from 1st Feb through May 2012. From the 321 available medical staff, 281 participated after verbal consent (Response rate 88%). Apart from socio-demographics, the questionnaire enquired about Influenza prevention, vaccine (specification, contraindication, immunity, schedule, & risk groups). Knowledge items were scored, and then summed up to get total score. The 50th & 75th centiles were taken as cut-offs for poor/fair, and fair/good knowledge respectively. SPSS V.16 was used for data analysis, with P value of ≤ 0.05 denoting significance. Results: Only 27% of medical staff studied in Karbala received influenza vaccine, and 43% had miss-believe of vaccine unavailability in health institutes, and 33% untrusted the vaccine. Poor influenza vaccine knowledge among medical providers was high (72%). Knowledge was not associated with gender, medical occupation type, and education, but significantly associated with Drs field of medical practice, and vaccination status. Conclusion: Medical staff Knowledge about influenza vaccine is low. MOH Policy makers need to update Medical staff about influenza vaccine via continuing medical education. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Seasonal influenza; Influenza vaccine; Medical staff knowledge; Karbala hospitals | ||
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