Promotion of flu vaccination among healthcare workers in an Italian academic hospital: an experience with tailored web tools

Background: Influenza causes significant mortality particularly among the elderly and high-risk groups. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of occupational exposure due to contact with patients. Aims of this study was to promote flu shot among HCWs through a multimedia campaign in a large North-Eastern Italian Hospital. Methods: The 2013/2014 flu vaccination multimedia campaign addressed to HCWs was developed by maintaining pre-existing tools (letters in pay slip and poster displayed in wards) and creating 4 on-line spots (30") delivered trough the hospital intranet. Campaign effectiveness was assessed in terms of changes in knowledge, attitude and practice comparing data of pre (10 items) and post test (20 items) survey on a randomized sample of HCWs. Results: Response rates were 92.6% (464/501) in pre-test and 83.2% (417/501) in post-test. 93.8% (391/417) of HCWs reported to awareness of the campaign to promote vaccination. Spots were seen by 59.6% (233/391) of HCWs. Some reasons for vaccine denial, \u201cnot believing in vaccine efficacy\u201d (34.7% to 14.9%), \u201cnot considering flu as a serious problem\u201d (from 24% to 12.6%), \u201cthinking not to get sick\u201d (28.7% to 18.2%) or \u201cbeing against the vaccine\u201d (32.7% to 21%), showed a statistically significant reduction after the exposure to the campaign. The \u201cintention to get vaccinated in the next year\u201d instead, raised effectively (13.1% to 36.6%). Vaccinated HCWs rate in 2013-2014 season was 7.6% (221/2910), and 5.6% (164/2910) in 2012-2013 (p