Author: Chung, Sau-kuen Queenie
Title: Attitudes of health care workers towards influenza vaccination
Degree: M.Sc.
Year: 2011
Subject: Influenza -- Vaccination -- China -- Hong Kong.
Influenza vaccines -- China -- Hong Kong.
Medical personnel -- China -- Hong Kong -- Attitudes.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations
Department: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences
Pages: 107 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.
Language: English
Abstract: Background of the study: Influenza related hospitalization and mortality among old age home residents (OAHRs) were relative higher than other high-risk groups globally. Vaccination for health care workers (HCWs) working in OAHs as a strategic plan to decrease influenza related mortality among OAHRs is recommended by many governments. This study aims to explore the factors affecting HCWs' (working in OAHs) willingness to vaccinate against influenza or not. The Integrated Model of Behavioral Prediction (IMBP) was adopted as a framework to guide the researcher in formulating the interview questions for the interviews. Method: Purposive sampling and semi-structured interview were utilized. Instruments: 90 HCWs (30 nurses and 60 HCAs) working in 13 OAHs in Hong Kong were recruited for this study. They included all ages, genders and most ranks. Data analysis: All interview sessions were conducted by a single interviewer and recorded on audio tape and the interviewees' responses were transcribed, coded and categorized. The categories were then fed into the IMBP for further analysis. First, the distribution of the categories attributable to the determinants of intention (attitudes, norms and self-efficacy) and barriers of the IMBP was studied; second, the distribution of the categories with respect to various sequences of compliance intentions was examined. Frequency counting then followed. Results: The compliance rates for nurses and HCAs were 30% and 46.6% respectively; the non-compliance rates for nurses and HCAs were 27% and 13% respectively. Over 30% of HCWs in this study displayed a tendency to receive influenza vaccination initially but changed their mind later (nurses 36.7% / HCAs 31.6%). Older female HCWs who had a higher education and more working experience tended to vaccinate. The variables together with their respective more prevalent categories were detailed here in descending order of frequency: attitudes (various levels of discomfort felt after vaccination), norms (industry need and protecting OAHRs), self-efficacy (self-protection) and barriers (institutional and professional influence). The vaccination compliance of HCWs was mostly affected by norms and self-efficacy; the non-compliance of HCWs was mainly influenced by attitudes and barriers. Conclusion: With the application of the IMBP, it becomes much clearer that the distribution of the categories across various sequences of intention among HCWs can be of substantial assistance to researchers intending to analyze the impact of the determinants and barriers on the HCWs' intention to vaccinate. In sum, this study supports the assertion that the IMBP is effective in explaining and predicting the compliance or non-compliance with influenza vaccination among HCWs.
Rights: All rights reserved
Access: restricted access

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/6426