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Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
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Do Degree Programs Affect Health Profession Students' Attitudes and Opinions Toward Vaccinations? An Italian Multicenter Study

  • Voglino, Gianluca (Department of Public Health, University of Turin) ;
  • Barbara, Andrea (Section of Hygiene - Institute of Public Health, Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore) ;
  • Dallagiacoma, Giulia (Post-Graduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia) ;
  • Santangelo, Omar Enzo (Department of Health Promotion, Maternal-Infant, Internal Medicine and Specialization of Excellence "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo) ;
  • Provenzano, Sandro (Department of Health Promotion, Maternal-Infant, Internal Medicine and Specialization of Excellence "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo) ;
  • Gianfredi, Vincenza (Post-Graduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia)
  • Received : 2019.10.14
  • Accepted : 2021.10.12
  • Published : 2022.03.30
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Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers' attitudes toward vaccination have been widely described in the literature, but a restricted amount of studies assessed healthcare students' knowledge, attitudes, and opinions on this issue. This study aimed to estimate the influence of a degree course on knowledge and immunization behavior among healthcare students and to compare medical students with students from other health profession degree programs to identify possible differences. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was performed in 2018 in 14 Italian Universities (3,131 students were interviewed). A validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, attitudes, and opinions toward vaccinations, with a specific focus on influenza vaccine and attitudes toward mandatory vaccination policies. Statistical software STATA® 14 was used. Results: Significant differences were recorded between medical students and other healthcare students. The intention to get vaccinated against influenza during the next season and having been vaccinated in the previous season was higher in the medical group (p < 0.001). In the group of students of other health professions, we registered a lower probability of identifying themselves as a high-risk group for contracting infectious diseases as a consequence of their profession and health status (aOR 0.49; CI95%: 0.40-0.60) and an increased likelihood of defining their level of knowledge on vaccine-preventable diseases and related vaccinations as "insufficient/sufficient/fair" (aOR 1.31; CI95%: 1.11-1.56). Conclusions: Results show several differences between medical students and students of other health professions when it comes to vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions, as well as a general low tendency to be vaccinated against influenza.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank all members of the "Vaccine and vaccine hesitancy" working group of the Committee of Medical Resident of Italian Society of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (Enrico Alagna, University of Palermo; Claudia Alessandroni, University of Roma Tor Vergata; Paolo Cella, University of Parma; Bruno Cosenza, University of Messina; Alessandro Cuda, University of Pavia; Francesco D'Aloisio, University of L'Aquila; Angelo D'Ambrosio, University of Torino; Matteo D'Angelo, University of Udine; Sara De Nitto, University of Bari; Francesca di Gaspare, University of Roma Tor Vergata; Leandro Gentile, University of Pavia; Giuseppe Ferrucci, University of Salerno; Francesco Mazzu, University of Messina; Pasquale Stefanizzi, University of Bari; Marina Di Vincenzo, University of Marche; Lucia Kundisova, University of Siena; Monica Navaro, University of Napoli Vanvitelli). Furthermore, we also thank all the students who anonymously and voluntarily completed the questionnaire and the researchers and professors who voluntarily supported our research.

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