Hepatitis b vaccine reasons for non-vaccination of healthcare professionals

Abstract

Objectives: To know the hepatitis B immunisation status of the Sete Rios Health Center staff, and to determine the main reasons for not complying with hepatitis B immunisation. Type of study: Cross-sectional, descriptive. Setting: Sete Rios Health Center (Lisbon, Portugal) Population: Staff of the Sete Rios Health Centre. Methods: Data were obtained from an anonymous self-applied questionnaire, during May 1996. Results: The target population included 163 individuals, of whom 136 (83,4%) answered the questionnaire. Forty-seven percent of the doctors did not receive the vaccine, nor were they immunised. Reasons presented were «lack of time», «floppiness», and «lack of interest». Three out of 27 nurses were not immunised the reason being «lack of interest». Two out of 10 nurse assistants, were not vaccinated due to «lack of interest». Only seven of 30 secretarial staff were vaccinated. The main reasons for not being vaccinated were «expensive vaccine» and «no-one has ever advised it to me». Conclusions: Doctors are health professionals at risk with the lowest immunisation rate, whereas nurses are the most widely vaccinated group. The reasons presented more frequently by all groups (except for the secretarial staff) were «lack of interest», «floppiness», and «lack of time».