Nelia Afonso1, Maurice Kavanagh2, Stephanie Swanberg2. 1. Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, United States. Electronic address: afonso@oakland.edu. 2. Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, United States.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Vaccination of health care workers (HCW) reduces transmission of influenza among patients, yet uptake of vaccination remains low. If vaccination education is integrated into the early medical school curriculum, will student attitudes toward the vaccine change? The objectives of the study were to: (1) Determine influenza vaccination rates among entering medical students; (2) Assess the attitudes toward influenza vaccination; (3) Evaluate the effects of a multifaceted educational intervention on attitudes to vaccination. METHODS: Entering medical students were surveyed before and after an intervention at the beginning of the influenza season. This intervention provided by an inter-professional team, included education about influenza, importance of vaccination for HCWs, followed by vaccination administration practice, and ended with students vaccinating consenting classmates. RESULTS: The pre-intervention surveys and intervention were completed by 124 of 125 (99%) students. Pre-intervention survey revealed 60 (48%) of students had been previously vaccinated. Of the vaccinated students 91% had been recommended vaccination by their healthcare provider compared to 43% of non-vaccinated students. More positive attitudes were noted in the vaccinated students compared to non-vaccinated students: importance of vaccination (p<0.01); HCWs should be vaccinated (p<0.01); recommendation of vaccine to family and friends (p<0.01). 97 (78%) students completed post-intervention surveys. Significant improvement in these attitudes was noted post-intervention compared to pre-intervention: importance of vaccination 93% versus 71% (p<0.01); HCWs should be vaccinated 95% versus 83% (p<0.01); recommendation to family and friends 93% versus 73% (p<0.01); comfort with vaccine counseling 92% versus 41%; comfort with vaccine administration 84% versus 22% (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Educating medical students and promoting the importance of vaccination early in a medical student's career using such an intervention is relatively simple and easily integrated into the curriculum. This intervention was successful in vaccinating all students, and demonstrated a marked positive shift in attitudes toward influenza vaccination.
INTRODUCTION: Vaccination of health care workers (HCW) reduces transmission of influenza among patients, yet uptake of vaccination remains low. If vaccination education is integrated into the early medical school curriculum, will student attitudes toward the vaccine change? The objectives of the study were to: (1) Determine influenza vaccination rates among entering medical students; (2) Assess the attitudes toward influenza vaccination; (3) Evaluate the effects of a multifaceted educational intervention on attitudes to vaccination. METHODS: Entering medical students were surveyed before and after an intervention at the beginning of the influenza season. This intervention provided by an inter-professional team, included education about influenza, importance of vaccination for HCWs, followed by vaccination administration practice, and ended with students vaccinating consenting classmates. RESULTS: The pre-intervention surveys and intervention were completed by 124 of 125 (99%) students. Pre-intervention survey revealed 60 (48%) of students had been previously vaccinated. Of the vaccinated students 91% had been recommended vaccination by their healthcare provider compared to 43% of non-vaccinated students. More positive attitudes were noted in the vaccinated students compared to non-vaccinated students: importance of vaccination (p<0.01); HCWs should be vaccinated (p<0.01); recommendation of vaccine to family and friends (p<0.01). 97 (78%) students completed post-intervention surveys. Significant improvement in these attitudes was noted post-intervention compared to pre-intervention: importance of vaccination 93% versus 71% (p<0.01); HCWs should be vaccinated 95% versus 83% (p<0.01); recommendation to family and friends 93% versus 73% (p<0.01); comfort with vaccine counseling 92% versus 41%; comfort with vaccine administration 84% versus 22% (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Educating medical students and promoting the importance of vaccination early in a medical student's career using such an intervention is relatively simple and easily integrated into the curriculum. This intervention was successful in vaccinating all students, and demonstrated a marked positive shift in attitudes toward influenza vaccination.
Authors: Miguel Saro-Buendía; Ángel Marrero-Sánchez; Daniel García-Ruiz de Morales; Guillermo Chiara-Graciani; Jaime Coderch-Carretero; María Asunción Pérez-Jacoiste Asín; José Tiago Silva; Mario Fernández-Ruiz; Pilar Arrazola; José María Aguado; Francisco López-Medrano Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2021-06-15 Impact factor: 4.526
Authors: Nelia M Afonso; Maurice J Kavanagh; Stephanie M Swanberg; Jeanne M Schulte; Tracy Wunderlich; Victoria C Lucia Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2017-01-06 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Claudio Costantino; Emanuele Amodio; Giuseppe Calamusa; Francesco Vitale; Walter Mazzucco Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2016-01-29 Impact factor: 2.463
Authors: C Marotta; D D Raia; G Ventura; N Casuccio; F Dieli; C D'Angelo; V Restivo; C Costantino; F Vitale; A Casuccio Journal: J Prev Med Hyg Date: 2017-06