Survey on use of and attitudes toward influenza vaccination among emergency department staff in a New York metropolitan hospital.

Objective: Recognizing that the potential transmission of influenza virus would be concentrated at a hospital's primary point of entry, we determined rates of staff compliance with the influenza vaccination recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in the Emergency Department (ED). We describe the basic knowledge concerning influenza transmission and factors influencing vaccination decisions among ED staff.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting And Participants: A large urban teaching hospital. Participants included ED staff, visiting professionals from other departments, and emergency medical service personnel transferring patients to the hospital.

Results: Of 230 surveys that were distributed, 200 were completed. One hundred one respondents (51%) were female. The overall influenza vaccination rate was 50%. Having had influenza previously was the most instrumental factor in whether or not a respondent chose vaccination (P<.001). Use of the Employees Health Services Free Vaccine Program (FVP) was a very important factor influencing whether ED staff sought influenza vaccination (P<.0001). Prior knowledge of the ACIP recommendations proved to be not statistically important (P=.03). A significant factor for respondents declining vaccination was the concern that illness could be caused by the vaccine (P<.0001). Variables such as sex of the respondents (P=.6714) and type of job (P=.3628) were not associated with vaccination.

Conclusion: Despite ACIP recommendations, 50% of respondents did not receive an influenza vaccination. Misconceptions regarding influenza vaccine efficacy, concerns about adverse effects, and fear of contracting illness were significantly associated with noncompliance with vaccination. Variables that were important contributors to compliance with vaccination were prior influenza illness and services rendered by the FVP.