[Attitude of hospital personnel to the risk of hepatitis B and vaccination. A questionnaire study].

The aim of the study was to find out why there was a low attendance at a vaccination campaign against hepatitis B carried out amongst hospital staff in Copenhagen (Bispebjerg Hospital). An anonymous questionnaire was sent to 653 employees in June 1991. Subjects were asked to describe occupational percutaneous and mucocutaneous blood exposure and vaccination status, as well as why they had not become vaccinated. Three hundred and forty-three (51%) subjects responded. Sixty percent had been exposed to blood during the last six months, especially doctors (79.6%), both physicians and surgeons, registered nurses (66.7%) and laboratory technicians (39.4%). Sixty-seven percent had started vaccination against hepatitis B and 86.7% had completed three vaccinations. Reasons not to become vaccinated were: afraid of secondary effects, doubt about the security of the vaccine, didn't receive any offer of vaccination, low risk of blood exposure and had not thought about it. In conclusion, a lot of hospital staff members have a high risk of blood exposure and thus possibility of infection with a blood-transmitted disease. Information about hepatitis B and information about the vaccine is important. All doctors, both physicians and surgeons, ought to be vaccinated against hepatitis B. Instructions against blood exposure need to be repeated over and over again.