Professional paper
DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES ON VACCINATION BETWEEN HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND GENERAL POPULATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
DINKO PUNTARIĆ
; Catholic University of Croatia, Department of Nursing, Zagreb, Croatia
IVA ŠESTAN
; Catholic University of Croatia, Department of Nursing, Zagreb, Croatia
MARKO ŠESTAN
; University of Rijeka, School of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia
INA STAŠEVIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0002-6912-2191
; University of Applied Sciences, Study of Nursing, Bjelovar, Croatia
DARKO ROPAC
orcid.org/0000-0002-9805-3869
; Catholic University of Croatia, Department of Nursing, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate whether there are differences in attitudes about the compulsory vaccination program between healthcare workers and general population in the Republic of Croatia. Methods: An internet questionnaire constructed for the purposes of this research was used and answered via social networks. The questionnaire ontained 20 questions and the results were processed by Graph Pad Prism statistical software. Results: Study results showed healthcare professionals to have more confi dence in and better knowledge about vaccination safety and effi cacy compared to respondents from the general population. Also, the latter were more likely to believe that the onset of autism is associated with vaccination and that vaccination causes weakening of the immune system. These differences in the opinion on vaccination were not related to socio-demographic factors or level of education. Furthermore, the results of this study found that abolition of legally mandatory vaccination would have negative effects on vaccination of the population, as a large proportion of respondents would not vaccinate their children. Conclusion: Healthcare workers have more positive attitudes about vaccination than the general population. Better education of parents about vaccination could contribute to a higher level of vaccination of the population.
Keywords
attitudes; vaccination; healthcare workers; general population
Hrčak ID:
256921
URI
Publication date:
28.4.2021.
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