Issue:
In many British Columbia health authorities, it is estimated that a lower proportion of healthcare workers have received the H1N1 vaccine versus the general population. To date, research has examined the intent to get vaccinated for H1N1. This study will set up collaborations between agencies to test a pilot survey to examine why people chose to get vaccinated, what other preventative measures they engaged in, and what risk perceptions drove those decisions. The intent is to understand the underlying risk perceptions, and to improve current educational messages that target healthcare workers during pandemics such as the H1N1 pandemic and seasonal influenza outbreaks.
Objectives:
This research will examine vaccination rates among a subset of healthcare workers, and the perceptions that drove the decision to adhere to vaccination programs. It will also examine the decisions that took place during the H1N1 pandemic and use the results to develop long-term surveys to improve educational messages for healthcare workers.
Anticipated Results:
It is anticipated that this research will develop inter-agency and organizational partnerships to foster research around H1N1. It will also develop and implement a pilot survey instrument that can then be implemented in a province wide survey of risk perceptions of H1N1 among healthcare workers. The results of this study will also help revise current educational messages intended for healthcare workers during seasonal influenza outbreaks and future pandemics.
Investigators:
Anne-Marie Nicol (University of British Columbia)
