Abstract:

Introduction: Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for nurses in order to decrease the morbidity related to influenza in healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to determine the perception and factors of influenza vaccine among community nurses (Klinik Kesihatan Maharani, Klinik Kesihatan Parit Jawa and Klinik Kesihatan Bukit Pasir) and hospital nurses in Hospital Pakar Sultanah Fatimah (HPSF) at Muar, Malaysia.

Methods: From October 25 and December 10, 2015, we conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study of perceptions and factors of influenza vaccination among community and hospital nurses. Convenience sampling of all the community and hospital nurses available in the area of Muar district. After brief explanation of the aim, 100 (50 community nurses; 50 hospital nurses) nurses had completed survey questionnaire.

Results: Influenza vaccination status was low in hospital nurses but high in community nurses, varying from 52% in hospital and 86% in community. The perception of nurses were considering influenza a severe disease (36% community nurses; 40% hospital nurses), protecting patients overall of 68%, protecting family (76% community nurses; 68% hospital nurses) and self-protection (100% community nurses; 96% hospital nurses), responsibility (94% community nurses; 90% hospital nurses), as a symptomatic treatment (72% community nurses; 58% hospital nurses) and adverse effects overall of 78%.

Discussion: The perception of nurses were considering influenza a severe disease, patients, family and self-protection, responsibility, as a symptomatic treatment and adverse effects. The encouraging factors associated with being vaccinated were working in health sector, afraid nurses will be infected by patients and nurses are old or having chronic disease; those that barriers associated for not vaccinated were concern about side effects of vaccine and afraid of influenza.

Conclusion: Influenza vaccination status seemed to be low in nurses especially in hospital nurses with differences between workplace settings. Specific continuous educational and vaccination programs for should be organized to reduce morbidity in high risk nurses and mandatory policy if vaccination program failed to achieve its aim.

Keywords: Vaccine, Influenza, Healthcare workers, nurses, hospital, community

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