Education on Vaccination Competence: an Intensive Course for Skillful Health Science Students.

Background: Vaccination is one of the most successful and cost-effective interventions for public health. Studies have shown that health professionals who have good knowledge and positive attitudes towards vaccination are more likely to provide effective vaccination protection to people, including themselves. Therefore, health science students must acquire evidence-based knowledge during their education to meet the challenges of healthcare. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and feedback of health science students who participated in the Educating Vaccination Competence (EDUVAC) Intensive Course. Methods: A five-day Intensive Course was implemented for health science students, which included a pre-assignment. The EDUVAC Intensive Course used different teaching methods (lectures, workshops, interactive games, discussions), group work, study visits, and cultural programs to encourage students' motivation. For the purpose of the study, students filled out an online questionnaire after giving informed consent. Results: Sample consisted of 31 health science students from five European Higher Institutions. They had very good knowledge on most knowledge questions. In the post measurement it was significantly greater and equal to 81%, p<0.001. Almost all students (93.5%) totally agreed that "It is important for adults to receive all recommended vaccines according to national guidelines". The statement "I have had an active attitude and participation in the Intensive Course" received 80.6% total agreement. Over 90.3% rated the Intensive Course as "excellent" or "above average". Conclusions: After completing the EDUVAC Intensive Course, students felt confident in their vaccination knowledge and skills, which benefited their professional development.

Online Education for Vaccination Competence Among Health Sciences Students.

The EDUVAC project aims to develop and implement a web-based course on educating vaccination competence among health sciences students. In the current study students' feedback and evaluation is assessed which guided the partners' efforts to improve the final course content and learning material that will be available for open access. After completing the web-based course, most of the students (N=103, 75.1%) perceived their vaccination knowledge was up to date and their overall participating experience was "above average or excellent (N=119, 86.9%). While, almost all of the students (N=127, 92.7%) found that the web-based course has benefitted them and their future career. Our findings support that the web-based courses can provide satisfactory learning experience to University students and offer flexibility when needed especially in times that remote education is the only option.

Vaccination competence of graduating public health nurse students and nurses.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the vaccination competence of graduating public health nurse students (PHN students) compared with public health nurses (PHNs). METHODS: Structured instruments were developed for this study: a self-assessment (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) of vaccination competence and a knowledge test. The data were collected through purposive sampling of graduating PHN students (n=129) from Finnish polytechnics representing the main geographical areas of Finland and PHNs (n=405), drawn from health centers in the same areas. RESULTS: PHNs assessed themselves to have higher vaccination competence than the PHN students, and also did better on the knowledge test. In multivariate analysis, when all common background variables were taken into account, there was no significant difference between the students and PHNs in the self-assessment, though the PHNs outperformed students on the knowledge test. CONCLUSIONS: Both basic and continuing education could be improved. The knowledge test developed for this study could be used at polytechnics and workplaces to test vaccination knowledge, and self-assessment could be discussed as part of employee development discussions. Future research might focus on developing the existing instruments, observing vaccination situations, and on interviewing clients.

Vaccination competence of public health nurses.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the vaccination competence of Finnish public health nurses. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A survey design was used. Participants (n=405) were public health nurses working in health centers in Finland. MEASURES: The data were collected using a structured instrument and were analyzed by SAS. RESULTS: The mean of self-assessment was 8.3 and the proportion percentage of correct answers in the knowledge test was 83 %. According to the self-assessment, public health nurses felt they were most competent in achieving the desired outcomes of vaccination implementation and poorest in their qualities as vaccinators. In the knowledge test, the public health nurses were familiar with vaccination recommendations and common contraindications, but showed room for improvement in managing an anaphylactic reaction, aseptic practices, and knowing the names of vaccines. There was a statistically significant link between the results on the self-assessment and the knowledge test. CONCLUSIONS: Further training should be organized in the areas where knowledge was lacking. It would be useful to further investigate differences in competence between public health nurses working different sectors. These results could be utilized in education, clinical nursing practice, administration and research. This study demonstrated that vaccination competence can be measured by means of the structured instrument.

Vaccination competence of graduating public health nurse students.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is a globally significant health prevention method implemented by health care professionals around the world. To date, however, there has been little research measuring vaccinators' vaccination competence. AIM: This paper evaluates the vaccination competence of graduating Finnish public health nurse students in order to develop teaching in vaccinators' basic and continuing education. METHODS: Data were collected using a structured instrument developed for this study. The participants were graduating public health nurse students (n=129). The measurement focused on the students' self-assessment of their vaccination competence using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), whereas their vaccination knowledge was tested with a knowledge test. RESULTS: Students assessed their level of vaccination competence as high. According to the self-assessment, their best competence area was achieved in the outcome of the implementation of vaccination. The students' poorest competence area was displayed in their qualities as vaccinators. In the knowledge test, the students distinguished vaccination recommendations and common contraindications well, but managing an anaphylactic reaction as well as knowing the names of vaccines showed room for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination competence can be measured by means of the structured instrument we developed. In Finland, more vaccination education in basic and continuing education is needed to maintain and develop vaccination competence.

Vaccination competence.

OBJECTIVE: Vaccinating is one of the most significant methods of health promotion in the world. The purpose of this study was to describe vaccination competence from the perspective of professionals, clients, and students. DESIGN: A cross-sectional interview study. SAMPLE: Participants (n=40) were public health nurses, physicians, nursing teachers and graduating public health nursing students, and vaccinated clients of various ages or vaccinated children's parents in Finland. MEASUREMENTS: Interview data were collected using semistructured interviews in focus groups and individual interviews, and were analyzed by content analysis. RESULTS: The participants pointed out that the competent vaccinator (CV) displays distinctive personal qualities, possesses the necessary attributes required in the vaccinator-client relationship, and is authorized to administer vaccinations. The competent vaccinator is a health care professional who is committed to vaccinating and who fosters social awareness of vaccinations. The competent implementation of the vaccination procedure consists of the vaccinator's actions before, during, and after the vaccination. The outcomes of a competent implementation are divided into immediate and long-term outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination competence is a broad entity. These results may be utilized for improving the practical implementation of vaccinations, administration, education, and research of vaccination procedures.