Impact of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic on Canadian health care workers: a survey on vaccination, illness, absenteeism, and personal protective equipment.
Data are limited on the impact of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A pandemic on health care worker (HCW) vaccination, illness, absenteeism, and personal protective equipment (PPE) use.
A survey was completed by HCWs from 14 hospitals participating in the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program who provided direct care to patients with pH1N1 influenza in high-risk units between September and December 2009.
Surveys were returned from 986 HCWs (80% nurses, 14% respiratory therapists, and 6% physicians). HCWs working in an intensive care unit (78%) or a designated influenza ward (67%) were more compliant with wearing an N95 respirator for aerosol-generating medical procedures than those working in an emergency department (47%; P 11 years were more compliant with wearing protective eyewear than those who worked for =11 years (69% vs 54%; P