Impact of Communicative and Informative Strategies on Influenza Vaccination Adherence and Absenteeism from Work of Health Care Professionals Working at the University Hospital of Palermo, Italy: A Quasi-Experimental Field Trial on Twelve Influenza Seasons

Every year, about 20% of health care workers (HCWs) acquire influenza, continuing to work and encouraging virus spreading. Influenza vaccination coverage rates and absenteeism from work among HCWs of the University Hospital (UH) of Palermo were analyzed before and after the implementation of several initiatives in order to increase HCWs’ awareness about influenza vaccination. Vaccines administration within hospital units, dedicated web pages on social media and on the UH of Palermo institutional web site, and mandatory compilation of a dissent form for those HCWs who refused vaccination were carried out during the last four influenza seasons. After the introduction of these strategies, influenza vaccination coverage went up from 5.2% (2014/2015 season) to 37.2% (2018/2019 season) (p < 0.001), and mean age of vaccinated HCWs significantly decreased from 48.1 years (95% CI: 45.7–50.5) to 35.9 years (95% CI: 35.0–36.8). A reduction of working days lost due to acute sickness among HCWs of the UH of Palermo was observed. Fear of adverse reactions and not considering themselves as a high-risk group for contracting influenza were the main reasons reported by HCWs that refused vaccination. Strategies undertaken at the UH of Palermo allowed a significant increase in vaccination adherence and a significant reduction of absenteeism from work.

Download Full-text

Are medical residents a “core group” for future improvement of influenza vaccination coverage in health-care workers? A study among medical residents at the University Hospital of Palermo (Sicily)

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.08.033 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 29 (45) ◽

pp. 8113-8117 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Emanuele Amodio ◽

Fabio Tramuto ◽

Guido Maringhini ◽

Rosario Asciutto ◽

Alberto Firenze ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

University Hospital ◽

Medical Residents ◽

Core Group ◽

Care Workers ◽

Future Improvement ◽

The University

Download Full-text

Successful Game Development Partnerships between Academics and Physicians

International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations ◽

10.4018/jgcms.2013070107 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 97-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Elena Bertozzi ◽

Leonard R. Krilov ◽

Dilys Walker

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Serious Games ◽

Home Birth ◽

University Hospital ◽

Game Development ◽

Rural Mexico ◽

Flu Vaccine ◽

Game Developers ◽

The University

This paper discusses the creation of two serious games developed by the Engender Games Group with the intention of meeting specific outcomes in the healthcare field. The processes and pitfalls of developing games of this kind are outlined with the intention of demonstrating how game developers and health care professionals can collaborate to produce compelling, fun games that meet specific goals. The Atendiendo el Parto en Casa (Home Birth), game is a collaboration with Drs. Dilys Walker and Carrie Rouse at the University of Washington Medical School to educate traditional midwives working in rural Mexico. The Flu Busters! game is a collaboration with a group of pediatric specialists at Winthrop-University Hospital on Long Island led by Dr. Leonard Krilov which explains how the flu vaccine works and encourages children to get vaccinated.

Download Full-text

Seasonal and Pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccination coverage and attitudes among health-care workers in a Spanish University Hospital

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.04.101 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 28 (30) ◽

pp. 4751-4757 ◽

Cited By ~ 100

Author(s):

Silvia Vírseda ◽

María Alejandra Restrepo ◽

Elena Arranz ◽

Purificación Magán-Tapia ◽

Mario Fernández-Ruiz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

University Hospital ◽

Care Workers

Download Full-text

Influenza vaccination and infection rates among health care workers: Results of a survey from a German university hospital, 2014 / 2015

10.26226/morressier.57fe118dd462b8028d89088d ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Nina Katharina Stock

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

University Hospital ◽

Infection Rates ◽

Care Workers

Download Full-text

The Effect of Using Flipped Classroom Model to Improve Iraqi EFL Learners’ Pronunciation in English at University Level

Journal of Education College Wasit University ◽

10.31185/eduj.vol1.iss40.1569 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (40) ◽

pp. 631-654

Author(s):

Khaldoon Waleed Husam Al-Mofti

Keyword(s):

Language Learning ◽

Flipped Classroom ◽

Efl Learners ◽

English Pronunciation ◽

Before And After ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

University Level ◽

The University ◽

And Control ◽

Experimental Group

For Iraqi EFL learners who are studying English pronunciation in a traditional instruction method often requires more effort and hard work. Thus, using new methods of teaching such as the flipped classroom model (FCM) is necessary to facilitate learning and improve performance. Hence, this study reports on explanatory research that investigates the effect of using the FCM in the teaching of English pronunciation for Iraqi EFL learners at the university level. The study implemented mixed research methods for data collection in a quasi-experimental analysis. Therefore, two tests were conducted on the assigned groups to measure the effect of the FCM before and after the intervention. Besides, a questionnaire and interviews were used on the experiment group students to collect data about their perceptions of the FCM. The study length (lasted) was 15 weeks and is comprised of 60 students from the department of English, College of Arts at the University of Anbar. The students were divided into two groups, experimental, and control with 30 students in each group. The findings revealed that there was a significant statistical difference between the two groups in favour of the experimental group with better performance, indicating that the FCM has considerably assisted the Iraqi EFL learners to improve their English pronunciation. Moreover, the students expressed their positive feedback and satisfaction on the use of the FCM in their responses to the questionnaire and the interviews. As such, the current study recommends further research to study the effect of applying the FCM in areas and disciplines other than language learning.

Download Full-text

Improved influenza vaccination coverage among health-care workers: evidence from a web-based survey in China, 2019/2020 season

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics ◽

10.1080/21645515.2020.1859317 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Heya Yi ◽

Yuan Yang ◽

Li Zhang ◽

Muli Zhang ◽

Qing Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Web Based ◽

Care Workers

Download Full-text

Leadership assumptions on implementation of patient involvement methods

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-021-06497-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kathrine Håland Jeppesen ◽

Kirsten Frederiksen ◽

Marianne Johansson Joergensen ◽

Kirsten Beedholm

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Organizational Learning ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Large Scale ◽

Patient Involvement ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Implementation Process ◽

University Hospital ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Implementation Processes

Abstract Background From 2014 to 17, a large-scale project, ‘The User-involving Hospital’, was implemented at a Danish university hospital. Research highlights leadership as crucial for the outcome of change processes in general and for implementation processes in particular. According to the theory on organizational learning by Agyris and Schön, successful change requires organizational learning. Argyris and Schön consider that the assumptions of involved participants play an important role in organizational learning and processes. The purpose was to explore leaders’ assumptions concerning implementation of patient involvement methods in a hospital setting. Methods Qualitative explorative interview study with the six top leaders in the implementation project. The semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed in accordance with Kvale and Brinkmanns’ seven stages of interview research. Result The main leadership assumptions on what is needed in the implementation process are in line with the perceived elements in organizational learning according to the theory of Argyris and Schön. Hence, they argued that implementation of patient involvement requires a culture change among health care professionals. Two aspects on how to obtain success in the implementation process were identified based on leadership assumptions: “The health care professionals’ roles in the implementation process” and “The leaders’ own roles in the implementation process”. Conclusion The top leaders considered implementation of patient involvement a change process that necessitates a change in culture with health care professionals as crucial actors. Furthermore, the top leaders considered themselves important facilitators of this implementation process.

Download Full-text

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards vaccination: a survey of university students in Europe

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1404 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

A Callegaro ◽

L Chinenye Ilogu ◽

O Lugovska ◽

S Mazzilli ◽

A Prugnola ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Medical Students ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Online Survey ◽

Educational Interventions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Level ◽

Coverage Rates ◽

The University ◽

Vaccination Knowledge

Abstract Background Immunisation programs are still facing substantial challenges in achieving target coverage rates. This has been attributed to the growing negative individual vaccination attitudes and behaviours. Most of the current studies assessing vaccination knowledge, attitude and beliefs targets adults. However, young people represent future parents and health care professionals. The objective of this study was to investigate vaccination knowledge attitudes and behaviours among university medical and non-medical students in Europe. Methods We performed a cross-sectional online survey between April and July 2018. The study participants were students attending different faculties at the University of Antwerp, Belgium and the University of Pisa, Italy. We described sample characteristics. The effect of risk factors was tested with univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Results A total of 2079 participants completed the survey including 873 medical students and 1206 from other faculties. The average of vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and confidence was respectively 5.51 (SD: 1.41), 4.66 (SD: 0.14) and 5.28 (SD: 0.57) on the 6-points scale. Our respondents demonstrated a high level of awareness with respect to their vaccination history. In total, 67.7% (n = 1407) reported to have received at least one vaccine in the previous five years; only 6.0% (n = 35) did not receive any vaccine in the previous 10 years. According to logistic regression analysis Italian students had significantly higher knowledge, attitude and confidence scores than Belgium respondents. Students of medicine scored significantly higher compared to non-medical students. Conclusions In order to reduce the gaps in vaccinations knowledge between non-medical and medical students we should plan educational interventions. In this way the number of future sceptical parents could be decreased. Further studies are required to explain the differences between countries. Key messages Young adults are the parents and the health care professionals of the future, for this reason their vaccination knowledge attitudes and behaviours should be carefully monitored. European non-medical students have lower vaccinations knowledge, attitudes and confidence compared with medical student. In order to fill these gaps, we should plan educational interventions.

Download Full-text