Nurse Practitioners’ Attitudes and Knowledge about Influenza Immunization

Influenza remains a leading cause of death nationally and internationally. Annual influenza immunization for healthcare workers has been recommended since 1984. Despite this, many healthcare workers do not receive the immunization. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are key primary care providers in the U.S....

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Main Authors: Kim Curry, Christina Humphreys
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of North Florida 2014-08-01
Series:Florida Public Health Review
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1155&context=fphr
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author Kim Curry
Christina Humphreys
author_facet Kim Curry
Christina Humphreys
author_sort Kim Curry
collection DOAJ
description Influenza remains a leading cause of death nationally and internationally. Annual influenza immunization for healthcare workers has been recommended since 1984. Despite this, many healthcare workers do not receive the immunization. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are key primary care providers in the U.S. healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and personal beliefs of NPs as a step toward understanding the reasons for the participation or non-participation in the influenza vaccine of this professional group. A quantitative cross-sectional survey of knowledge, attitudes, NP demographics, and patient factors was carried out. Most of the 174 participants had received the vaccine. Vaccine status was not correlated with the assessed risk level of patients. Available and mandatory vaccine in the workplace was correlated with vaccination status of the NP. Vaccine status of the NP was correlated with patient counseling to receive influenza immunization. Not all NPs agree with or adhere to federal vaccine recommendations. It is critically important for healthcare providers to base decisions affecting the health of themselves and their patients on evidence-based research.
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spelling doaj.art-4e1979e6a02a46c487c5a3cfe00dd3be2022-12-21T19:37:03ZengUniversity of North FloridaFlorida Public Health Review2643-62482014-08-0111915Nurse Practitioners’ Attitudes and Knowledge about Influenza ImmunizationKim Curry0Christina Humphreys1University of Florida College of NursingH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research InstituteInfluenza remains a leading cause of death nationally and internationally. Annual influenza immunization for healthcare workers has been recommended since 1984. Despite this, many healthcare workers do not receive the immunization. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are key primary care providers in the U.S. healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and personal beliefs of NPs as a step toward understanding the reasons for the participation or non-participation in the influenza vaccine of this professional group. A quantitative cross-sectional survey of knowledge, attitudes, NP demographics, and patient factors was carried out. Most of the 174 participants had received the vaccine. Vaccine status was not correlated with the assessed risk level of patients. Available and mandatory vaccine in the workplace was correlated with vaccination status of the NP. Vaccine status of the NP was correlated with patient counseling to receive influenza immunization. Not all NPs agree with or adhere to federal vaccine recommendations. It is critically important for healthcare providers to base decisions affecting the health of themselves and their patients on evidence-based research.https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1155&context=fphr
spellingShingle Kim Curry
Christina Humphreys
Nurse Practitioners’ Attitudes and Knowledge about Influenza Immunization
Florida Public Health Review
title Nurse Practitioners’ Attitudes and Knowledge about Influenza Immunization
title_full Nurse Practitioners’ Attitudes and Knowledge about Influenza Immunization
title_fullStr Nurse Practitioners’ Attitudes and Knowledge about Influenza Immunization
title_full_unstemmed Nurse Practitioners’ Attitudes and Knowledge about Influenza Immunization
title_short Nurse Practitioners’ Attitudes and Knowledge about Influenza Immunization
title_sort nurse practitioners attitudes and knowledge about influenza immunization
url https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1155&context=fphr
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