The evaluation of the opinions and attitudes of healthcare personnel of the province Diyarbakir against influenza A (H1N1) and the vaccination

Abstract

In this study it was targeted aimed to evaluate the opinions and attitudes of healthcare personnel of the province Diyarbakir against Influenza A(H1N1) and the vaccination and to determine the undesired effects after the vaccination. In this descriptive study, 1691 healthcare personnel participated. The participants were asked about their opinions about being included in the risk group or not, status of advising and having Influenza A(H1N1) vaccination, reasons of having or not having the vaccination, their opinions and attitudes about the pandemic and influenza vaccine and the practices of the press and the Ministry of Health. Of participants, 49.6% stated that they advised pandemic influenza vaccination. Of the healthcare personnel, 35.3% stated that they had pandemic influenza vaccine. Age, sex, profession, having seasonal influenza vaccine , using Media and the Ministry of Health as a source of information were important factors for the status of advising and having Influenza A(H1N1)v vaccine. The healthcare personnel should be informed about the purpose and practices of protection programs. It might be suggested to use press, which is regarded as the most important communication media, in accordance with the conditions in order to achieve suitable risk communication with the society.