[Beliefs and attitudes of health workers and nursing students toward an influenza pandemic in a region of Spain]

Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. 2019 Jul-Sep;36(3):481-486. doi: 10.17843/rpmesp.2019.363.4371. Epub 2019 Dec 2.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

A survey was carried out during March-May 2017 to analyze the beliefs and attitudes of health workers and nursing students in the face of an influenza pandemic in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. A high percentage doubted that there is a vaccine to protect them against an influenza pandemic, although workers showed greater certainty than students concerning access to a vaccine. Health workers showed themselves as more responsible for their work than students; i.e., 46.7% would be in favor of penalizing anyone who refused to go to work because there is a high percentage that put work before their responsibility toward themselves and their families. In conclusion, this study suggests promoting initiatives for reducing absenteeism, identifying those factors that would facilitate it, and having a contingency plan prepared in the event of an influenza pandemic.

Con el objetivo de analizar las creencias y actitudes de trabajadores sanitarios y estudiantes de enfermería de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria en España ante una pandemia por gripe, se aplicó una encuesta durante marzo-mayo del 2017. Un alto porcentaje duda que exista una vacuna que les proteja ante una pandemia por gripe aunque los trabajadores muestran mayor seguridad con respecto al acceso a una vacuna que los estudiantes, los trabajadores sanitarios manifestaron una mayor responsabilidad ante su trabajo que los estudiantes, así un 46,7% estaría de acuerdo en sancionar al que se negase a ir a trabajar, debido a que existe un alto porcentaje lo anteponen a su responsabilidad para sí y su familia. En conclusión, se sugiere la promoción de iniciativas encaminadas a reducir el absentismo, identificando aquellos factores que lo facilitarían y tener preparado un plan de contingencia ante una pandemia por gripe.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Culture*
  • Female
  • Health Personnel / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Pandemics*
  • Self Report
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Students, Nursing / psychology*