Vaccination coverage among health-care workers: pre–post intervention study to assess impact of an on-site vaccination-dedicated clinic

ABSTRACT

Background

Several studies have revealed low vaccinations coverage among health-care workers (HCWs) for all vaccinations. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the implementation of an on-site vaccination-dedicated clinic on the vaccination coverage rates of HCWs.

Research design and methods

A quasi-experimental pre–post intervention study was carried out among undergraduate and postgraduate students attending medical and health-care professions schools.

Results

We enrolled 804 students, 404 in the control and 400 in the experimental group. A significantly higher increase of vaccination coverage in the experimental group than in the control group for all the investigated vaccinations (p < 0.001) was found. The odds of adherence to vaccinations in the experimental group, compared to the control group, ranged from 6.9-fold (95% CI 3.51–13.44) to 18.9-fold (95% CI 10.85–32.96). The increase in the coverage rate in the control group was between 2.5% and 3.5%, whereas in the experimental group, higher increases were found, ranging from 34.8% to 71%.

Conclusions

The extraordinary increase in the adherence to HCWs recommended vaccinations found in the study seems to indicate a significant role of enabling factors in the complex process of decision-making and implementation of health-related behaviors.

KEYWORDS:

• Health-care workers
• on-site vaccination-dedicated clinic
• occupational risk
• recommended vaccinations
• vaccination coverage

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

Caterina De Sarro and Claudia Pileggi concepted and designed the study. Caterina De Sarro and Rosa Papadopoli collected the data, contributed to the data analysis and interpretation and wrote the first draft of the article. Enza Cautela and Carmelo Giuseppe Angelo Nobile collected the data, and contributed to its analysis. Claudia Pileggi contributed to data interpretation and wrote the first draft of the article. Maria Pavia was responsible for the data analysis and interpretation, and wrote the final draft of the article. Claudia Pileggi and Maria Pavia revised the paper critically for intellectual content and approved the final version to be published. All authors all authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.