Survey Of Healthcare Workers Research Articles

Job satisfaction among healthcare workers at a district hospital in Plateau State, Nigeria

Background: Job satisfaction has been identified as a key factor determining patient satisfaction in health care organizations. This study was undertaken to assess the job satisfaction index among staff in the facility, and to identify factors influencing job satisfaction as a means of improving services in the hospital. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional survey of health care workers conducted using the Linda Powells (Mountains State Group Inc) self-administered questionnaire. This is a 50-item questionnaire assessing eight thematic areas; 1. Overall satisfaction, 2. Planning, 3. General Attitudes, 4. Performance issues, 5. Management issues, 6. Supervisory issues, 7. Training and salary issues, 8. Benefits. Results: Overall, 64.8% of respondents were satisfied with their jobs. The thematic area that had the highest job satisfaction score was general attitudes; while the lowest was benefits 37.7%. Conclusion: The overall job satisfaction was found to be 64.8%. The thematic area that scored highest for level of satisfaction was general attitudes followed by performance issues, supervisory issues and planning. Staff were not satisfied with management issues, training and salary issues and benefits.

Hand Hygiene Perception and Practice Among Health Care Workers in Saudi Hospitals: A Cross Sectional Survey

Hand hygiene is recognized as the leading measure to prevent transmission of microorganisms and to reduce the incidence of health care associated infections in the hospitals. It is estimated that annually millions of patients are suffering from healthcare associated infections; however, hand hygiene is one of the most important contributing factors to healthcare acquired infections. A descriptive cross sectional design was utilized. 160 participants were included consisting of all accessible health care professions. A questionnaire adopted from the World Health Organization perception survey of health care workers was utilized, gathering data about the demographic data, the attitudes, and the opinions toward hand hygiene. The majority of the participants were females, young and from the nursing profession. Most of them reported that they had received previous education and they routinely use alcohol-based hand rub in their daily clinical practice. The majority believes that the availability of alcohol-based hand rubs at each point of care, receiving education on hand hygiene, and the use of hand hygiene posters have a great effect on the compliance with hand hygiene at the hospital. Half of the participants believe that the infection control committee members are the best to remind them to perform hand hygiene; while, most of them doesn’t prefer patients or their relatives as a reminder to perform hand hygiene. In conclusion, the respondents reported a high self-efficacy in performing hand hygiene and positive attitudes toward hand hygiene as one of the most effective strategies to reduce health care associated infections.

Uninsured Maternity Patients in Calgary: Local Trends and Survey of Health Care Workers.

Uninsured maternity patients comprise a small but complex group of patients and include marginalized Canadians, undocumented immigrants, visitors, and non-Canadians seeking health care and/or citizenship for their newborn. This is the first Canadian study to quantify these patients and to review health care providers' perspectives and practices of care. Data for all deliveries in Calgary, Alberta over a 4-year period (2013-2016) were analyzed. All Calgary anaesthesiologists, family physicians, midwives, neonatologists, obstetricians, and pediatricians were surveyed about their care of these patients, ethical perspectives, and knowledge of liability protection when providing such care. This study found a trend of uninsured deliveries in Calgary (from 0.5% in 2013 to 0.8% in 2016; P < 0.0001) that is accounted for by non-Canadian patients. Midwives and physicians agree on provision of emergency care but not preventive care. Across medical specialties, fewer caregivers felt obliged to care for non-Canadian patients seeking citizenship for their newborn. Among physicians, 61% were aware of the Canadian Medical Protective Association's guidelines on liability coverage for non-Canadian patients, and only 28% consistently protected themselves legally. There is large variation regarding whether physicians bill for services when the patient is uninsured. In Calgary, the study observed an increase in numbers of uninsured maternity patients. Differing ethical perspectives on the care of these patients may lead to conflict within health care teams because of differences on ethical perspectives of care among team members. Health care providers require education to understand the implications and challenges of obstetrical care of non-Canadians.

A survey to optimize the design of an antimicrobial stewardship smartphone app at an academic medical center.

Mobile medical apps are commonly used by health care professionals and could be used by antimicrobial stewardship programs to enhance adherence to local recommendations. We conducted a survey of health care workers to inform the design of an antimicrobial stewardship smartphone app.

Survey of Healthcare Workers in a Midwestern Tertiary Care Center Regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transmission Risk and Their Opinion About HIV-Positive Healthcare Workers

Survey of Healthcare Workers in a Midwestern Tertiary Care Center Regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transmission Risk and Their Opinion About HIV-Positive Healthcare Workers

Seroepidemiological survey of health care workers in Maharashtra

Context: HCWs all over the world carry occupational risk of getting infected with major blood borne infections through needle stick injuries (NSIs). As health care industry has been expanding, risk of nosocomial infections is increasing proportionately. Measures to prevent it and put in place a mechanism to control these injuries are needed urgently, especially in India where there is not only increase in domestic demand but impetus in health tourism. Aim: To determine HBs Ag, HBc IgM level and to assess anti-HBs level prevalence in HCWs, in a tertiary care hospital and to study the influence of factors like age and sex in the vaccinated HCWs and formulate mechanism to increase awareness to create a safe working environment in the hospitals. Settings and Design: 437 HCWs, working in Laboratories, Surgical, Medical or Dental departments in 11 Civil Hospitals and Sub-district Hospitals covering 8 circles of the State. Methods and Material: Qualitative and Quantitative estimation of HBs Ag and Anti-HBs by sandwich ELISA technique and qualitative HBc IgM level by antibody-capture, non-competitive test. Liver profile (SGPT, SGOT and Alkaline Phosphatase) by IFCC method done. Statistical Analysis Used: Tabulation and Pie Circle Result: 193 of the total 229 vaccinated HCWs tested positive for core antibody, meaning that they were infected prior to HBs Ag vaccination, leaving a total of 36 ‘truly’ vaccinated HCWs. 11 HBs Ag positive HCWs were tested for Liver Profile and all had ALAT, ASAT and ALP within normal range. Out of total number of 141 HCWs having 10 and below IU/L anti HBs, 5 HCWs were positive for HBS Ag, showing a positivity of 3.5%. Conclusion: Need of vaccination and for post-vaccination serological testing of all HCWs considering the high rates of non-responders and low responders (anti-HBs-34.2%). Importance of educating the HCWs of safety precautions while handling body fluids, and the management of ‘ sharps ‘ injuries.

Predictors of adherence to safe handling practices for antineoplastic drugs: A survey of hospital nurses

ABSTRACTDespite growing awareness of the hazards of exposure to antineoplastic drugs (ADs), surveys continue to find incomplete adherence to recommended safe handling guidelines. A 2011 survey of healthcare workers presents an opportunity to examine factors associated with adherence among 1094 hospital nurses who administered ADs.Data for these hypothesis-generating analyses were taken from an anonymous, web-based survey of healthcare workers. Regression modeling was used to examine associations between a number of predictors (engineering controls, work practices, nurse perceptions, and nurse and hospital characteristics) and three outcomes reported by nurses: use of personal protective equipment (PPE); activities performed with gloves previously worn to administer ADs; and spills of ADs.Adherence to safe handling guidelines was not universal, and AD spills were reported by 9.5% of nurses during the week prior to the survey. Familiarity with safe handling guidelines and training in safe handling were associated with more reported PPE use. Nurse-perceived availability of PPE was associated with more reported PPE use and lower odds of reported spills. Use of closed system drug-transfer devices and luer-lock fittings also decreased the odds of self-reported AD spills, while more frequent AD administration increased the risk. AD administration frequency was also associated with performing more activities with gloves previously worn to administer ADs, and nurse perception of having adequate time for taking safety precautions with fewer such activities.The results suggest that training and familiarity with guidelines for safe handling of ADs, adequate time to adhere to guidelines, and availability of PPE and certain engineering controls are key to ensuring adherence to safe handling practices. Further assessment of training components and engineering controls would be useful for tailoring interventions targeting these areas.

A profile of inactive information seekers on influenza prevention: a survey of health care workers in Central Kentucky.

This study developed a profile of inactive information seekers by characterising how they are different from active seekers, identifying possible determinants of inactive seekers and understanding characteristics of frequently asked influenza-related questions. A survey and follow-up interviews were conducted between December 2010 and January 2011. A total of 307 health care workers in three hospitals in Central Kentucky (USA) are included. Four study groups were formed based on their information-seeking and vaccination uptake status: (1) Inactive Seekers with Vaccination (N = 141); (2) Inactive Seekers without Vaccination (N = 49); (3) Active Seekers with Vaccination (N = 107); and (4) Active Seekers without Vaccination (N = 10). Inactive Seekers without Vaccination are found to be least responsive to health outcomes. Inactive Seeker groups do not prefer to use sources such as Internet or family/friends. In predicting inactive seekers, Information Needs and Knowledge Perception made significant contributions to prediction. The most frequently asked questions included information about survival duration of influenza virus (N = 25) followed by the incubation period for influenza (N = 24). Profiling inactive seekers can serve as a way to better design customised influenza information sources and services for health care workers, thus giving hospitals through medical libraries additional tools to reduce the spread of influenza.

Perceptions and Barriers to Universal Gloving for Infection Prevention: A Survey of Healthcare Workers and Patients.

Perceptions and Barriers to Universal Gloving for Infection Prevention: A Survey of Healthcare Workers and Patients.

Success in the South Pacific: a case study of successful diffusion of an infection prevention and control program.

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to explore the role of the Diffusion of Innovations framework in adopting an infection prevention and control program (IPCP) in a low and middle income (LMI) country, the Republic of Kiribati.MethodsCase-study methodology was used to examine and contextualise the analysis of the Republic of Kiribati's adoption of the IPCP from 2003 to 2010. Data were collected from multiple sources including semi-structured interviews, IPCP documentation, program evaluation and a healthcare worker survey. Data were subjected to thematic analysis and descriptive statistics where relevant to the study design.ResultsIt was found that the self-initiated progression of activities and stimuli has resulted in the successful adoption of a comprehensive IPCP. The process followed the staged model of the classic Diffusion of Innovations process in organisations described by Everett Rogers.ConclusionThis case study provides an illustration of how a comprehensive IPCP can be adopted in a LMI country setting with little involvement from external agencies. It identifies key stimuli, opportunities and activities which could be similarly adopted and implemented by other LMI countries.

Expectations for methodology and translation of animal research: a survey of health care workers.

BackgroundHealth care workers (HCW) often perform, promote, and advocate use of public funds for animal research (AR); therefore, an awareness of the empirical costs and benefits of animal research is an important issue for HCW. We aim to determine what health-care-workers consider should be acceptable standards of AR methodology and translation rate to humans.MethodsAfter development and validation, an e-mail survey was sent to all pediatricians and pediatric intensive care unit nurses and respiratory-therapists (RTs) affiliated with a Canadian University. We presented questions about demographics, methodology of AR, and expectations from AR. Responses of pediatricians and nurses/RTs were compared using Chi-square, with P < .05 considered significant.ResultsResponse rate was 44/114(39%) (pediatricians), and 69/120 (58%) (nurses/RTs). Asked about methodological quality, most respondents expect that: AR is done to high quality; costs and difficulty are not acceptable justifications for low quality; findings should be reproducible between laboratories and strains of the same species; and guidelines for AR funded with public money should be consistent with these expectations. Asked about benefits of AR, most thought that there are sometimes/often large benefits to humans from AR, and disagreed that “AR rarely produces benefit to humans.” Asked about expectations of translation to humans (of toxicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and treatment findings), most: expect translation >40% of the time; thought that misleading AR results should occur <21% of the time; and that if translation was to occur <20% of the time, they would be less supportive of AR. There were few differences between pediatricians and nurses/RTs.ConclusionsHCW have high expectations for the methodological quality of, and the translation rate to humans of findings from AR. These expectations are higher than the empirical data show having been achieved. Unless these areas of AR significantly improve, HCW support of AR may be tenuous.

Post exposure prophylaxis following occupational exposure to HIV: a survey of health care workers in Mbeya, Tanzania, 2009-2010.

IntroductionApproximately, 1,000 HIV infections are transmitted annually to health care workers (HCWs) worldwide from occupational exposures. Tanzania HCWs experience one to nine needle stick injuries (NSIs) per year, yet the use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is largely undocumented. We assessed factors influencing use of PEP among HCWs following occupational exposure to HIV.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Mbeya Referral Hospital, Mbozi and Mbarali District Hospitals from December 2009 to January 2010 with a sample size of 360 HCWs. Participants were randomly selected from a list of eligible HCWs in Mbeya hospital and all eligible HCWs were enrolled in the two District Hospitals. Information regarding risk of exposure to body fluids and NSIs were collected using a questionnaire. Logistic regression was done to identify predictors for PEP use using Epi Info 3.5.1 at 95% confidence interval.ResultsOf 291 HCWs who participated in the study, 35.1% (102/291) were exposed to NSIs and body fluids, with NSIs accounting for 62.9% (64/102). Exposure was highest among medical attendants 38.8% (33/85). Out of exposed HCWs, (22.5% (23/102) used HIV PEP with females more likely to use PEP than males. Reporting of exposures (OR=21.1, CI: 3.85-115.62) and having PEP knowledge (OR =6.5, CI: 1.78-23.99) were significantly associated with using PEP.ConclusionDespite the observed rate of occupational exposure to HCWs in Tanzania, use of PEP is still low. Effective prevention from HIV infection at work places is required through proper training of HCWs on PEP with emphasis on timely reporting of exposures.

1515Perceptions and Barriers to Universal Gloving for Infection Prevention: A Survey of Healthcare Workers and Patients

1515Perceptions and Barriers to Universal Gloving for Infection Prevention: A Survey of Healthcare Workers and Patients

Adherence to Safe Handling Guidelines by Health Care Workers Who Administer Antineoplastic Drugs

The toxicity of antineoplastic drugs is well documented. Many are known or suspected human carcinogens where no safe exposure level exists. Authoritative guidelines developed by professional practice organizations and federal agencies for the safe handling of these hazardous drugs have been available for nearly three decades. As a means of evaluating the extent of use of primary prevention practices such as engineering, administrative and work practice controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), and barriers to using PPE, the National Institute for Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a web survey of health care workers in 2011. The study population primarily included members of professional practice organizations representing health care occupations which routinely use or come in contact with selected chemical agents. All respondents who indicated that they administered antineoplastic drugs in the past week were eligible to complete a hazard module addressing self-reported health and safety practices on this topic. Most (98%) of the 2069 respondents of this module were nurses. Working primarily in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and physician offices, respondents reported that they had collectively administered over 90 specific antineoplastic drugs in the past week, with carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel the most common. Examples of activities which increase exposure risk, expressed as percent of respondents, included: failure to wear nonabsorbent gown with closed front and tight cuffs (42%); intravenous (I.V.) tubing primed with antineoplastic drug by respondent (6%) or by pharmacy (12%); potentially contaminated clothing taken home (12%); spill or leak of antineoplastic drug during administration (12%); failure to wear chemotherapy gloves (12%); and lack of hazard awareness training (4%). The most common reason for not wearing gloves or gowns was “skin exposure was minimal”; 4% of respondents, however, reported skin contact during handling and administration. Despite the longstanding availability of safe handling guidance, recommended practices are not always followed, underscoring the importance of training and education for employers and workers.

Chiang Mai University Health Worker Study aiming toward a better understanding of noncommunicable disease development in Thailand: methods and description of study population.

BackgroundUrbanization is considered to be one of the key drivers of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Thailand and other developing countries. These influences, in turn, may affect an individual’s behavior and risk of developing NCDs. The Chiang Mai University (CMU) Health Worker Study aims to provide evidence for a better understanding of the development of NCDs and ultimately to apply the evidence toward better prevention, risk modification, and improvement of clinical care for patients with NCDs and NCD-related conditions.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of health care workers from CMU Hospital was conducted between January 2013 and June 2013. Questionnaires, interviews, and physical and laboratory examinations were used to assess urban exposure, occupational shift work, risk factors for NCDs, self-reported NCDs, and other NCD-related health conditions.ResultsFrom 5,364 eligible workers, 3,204 participated (59.7%). About 11.1% of the participants had high blood pressure (systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg) and almost 30% were considered to be obese (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2). A total of 2.3% had a high fasting blood glucose level (≥126 mg/dL), and the most common abnormal lipid profile was high low-density lipoprotein (≥160 mg/dL), which was found in 19.2% of participants.DiscussionThe study of health workers offers three potential advantages. The first is that the study of migrants was possible. Socioenvironmental influence on NCD risk factors can be explored, as changes in environmental exposures can be documented. Second, it allows the investigators to control for access to care. Access to care is potentially a key confounder toward understanding the development of NCDs. Lastly, a study of health personnel allows easy access to laboratory investigations and potential for long-term follow-up. This enables ascertainment of a number of clinical outcomes and provides potential for future studies focusing on therapeutic and prognostic issues related to NCDs.

Associations between perceptions of evidence and adoption of H1N1 influenza infection prevention strategies among healthcare workers providing care to persons with spinal cord injury

To examine associations between perceptions of evidence (research evidence, clinical expertise, patient preferences) and outcomes of a nationwide programme to implement H1N1 influenza prevention guidelines. Healthcare workers do not consistently adhere to recommended infection control practices and this may be associated with their perceptions of evidence sources. Cross-sectional mailed survey. A survey of healthcare workers was administered in August 2010 after implementation of H1N1 prevention guidelines. Outcomes of interest were ratings of adherence to H1N1 prevention guidelines. Respondents with complete data (N = 283) were included in analyses. Facility-level adherence to guidelines was associated with opinions of clinical experts. Healthcare workers who rated clinical expertise as aligning with recommendations also rated their facilities as being more adherent to guidelines. Perceptions of research evidence and patient preferences were not associated with facility adherence. Personal adherence was not associated with perceptions of evidence, except among those healthcare workers who rated both clinical experts and patients as unsupportive of guidelines; these practitioners were less likely to adhere to recommended personal hygiene practices. Efforts to implement guidelines might be most effective when capitalizing on the influence of clinical experts. To better explain variability in guideline adherence, inclusion of a broader array of variables is recommended for future studies.

Counseling for prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy due to thalassemia major: a survey of health care workers' practices in Malaysia

Genetic counseling for thalassemia carriers is conducted by nongeneticist health care workers (HCWs) in many countries. The aim of the study was to assess Malaysian HCWs' genetic counseling practices with regards to discussing prenatal diagnosis (PND) and termination of pregnancy (TOP) when counseling thalassemia carriers. A total of 118 Malaysian HCWs (52 doctors and 66 nurses) completed a structured questionnaire that enquired if they would discuss PND and TOP when counseling couples with thalassemia traits, and reasons for their responses were explored. All the nurses and 50 (96.1%) doctors were in favor of discussing PND. Only 29 (58%) doctors and 33 (50%) nurses were agreeable to discuss about the option of TOP. Main reasons given for declining to discuss TOP were views that "the condition was not serious enough" (54.9%), TOP is not permissible by their religion (17.6%) and abortion for this indication was illegal (13.7%). The results showed that HCWs in Malaysia lacked the comprehensive information and necessary skills required when counseling thalassemia carriers. When nongeneticist HCWs are tasked with such responsibilities, their practices and attitudes should be regularly evaluated so that areas of deficiencies could be identified and addressed.

Implementing a Healthcare Worker Pertussis Immunization Program: Benefits and Barriers

Purpose for the Program To create an education plan to empower healthcare workers to understand their susceptibility to pertussis and to receive the pertussis vaccination. Proposed Change To increase the number of pertussis immunized healthcare workers from approximately 20% to 90% at one healthcare facility. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation By increasing the number of healthcare workers who have received the pertussis vaccination through a comprehensive healthcare worker pertussis immunization program, the likelihood that a newborn infant and mother would be exposed to pertussis from a healthcare worker would be greatly decreased. This would increase fortify the pertussis cocoon the healthcare facility attempts to establish around the newborn and his/her family. Pertussis immunization also would protect healthcare workers from exposure to pertussis from patients, family members, and visitors. Pertussis infection in newborns carries a significantly high morbidity and mortality rate because these infants are too young to have received their pertussis vaccination. A comparison of healthcare worker immunization rates before and after program implementation will be calculated. A survey of healthcare workers will also be conducted using the Health Belief Model framework to determine their reasons for receiving the pertussis vaccination and the perceived barriers to pertussis immunization. These results will be used to modify the immunization plan to increase adherence. If the healthcare worker immunization rate does not reach the goal of 90% then a mandatory pertussis immunization policy may be implemented. Implications for Nursing Practice Pertussis is a completely preventable disease that can be almost completely eradicated through proper immunization. Currently most healthcare workers are not aware of their potential susceptibility to pertussis or that they could acquire pertussis from patients and individuals in the community in which they live. According to a study by Calagar et al. (2006), healthcare workers are at 1.6 times higher risk of acquiring pertussis than the general population. Increasing pertussis immunization rates for healthcare workers to 90% would protect the healthcare workers, newborns, the newborns’ mothers and family members, other patients and visitors, and the community from pertussis infection. The pertussis healthcare worker immunization plan also could benefit the employee and healthcare facility by decreasing potential employee absence due to pertussis illness. To create an education plan to empower healthcare workers to understand their susceptibility to pertussis and to receive the pertussis vaccination. To increase the number of pertussis immunized healthcare workers from approximately 20% to 90% at one healthcare facility. By increasing the number of healthcare workers who have received the pertussis vaccination through a comprehensive healthcare worker pertussis immunization program, the likelihood that a newborn infant and mother would be exposed to pertussis from a healthcare worker would be greatly decreased. This would increase fortify the pertussis cocoon the healthcare facility attempts to establish around the newborn and his/her family. Pertussis immunization also would protect healthcare workers from exposure to pertussis from patients, family members, and visitors. Pertussis infection in newborns carries a significantly high morbidity and mortality rate because these infants are too young to have received their pertussis vaccination. A comparison of healthcare worker immunization rates before and after program implementation will be calculated. A survey of healthcare workers will also be conducted using the Health Belief Model framework to determine their reasons for receiving the pertussis vaccination and the perceived barriers to pertussis immunization. These results will be used to modify the immunization plan to increase adherence. If the healthcare worker immunization rate does not reach the goal of 90% then a mandatory pertussis immunization policy may be implemented. Pertussis is a completely preventable disease that can be almost completely eradicated through proper immunization. Currently most healthcare workers are not aware of their potential susceptibility to pertussis or that they could acquire pertussis from patients and individuals in the community in which they live. According to a study by Calagar et al. (2006), healthcare workers are at 1.6 times higher risk of acquiring pertussis than the general population. Increasing pertussis immunization rates for healthcare workers to 90% would protect the healthcare workers, newborns, the newborns’ mothers and family members, other patients and visitors, and the community from pertussis infection. The pertussis healthcare worker immunization plan also could benefit the employee and healthcare facility by decreasing potential employee absence due to pertussis illness.

Original Research

To improve hand hygiene in two outpatient health care clinics through the introduction of a gel sanitizer and an informational poster. In this interventional study, health care workers at two outpatient clinics were observed for frequency of hand hygiene (attempts versus opportunities). Gel sanitizer and informational posters were introduced together as an intervention. Direct observation of the frequency of hand hygiene was performed during baseline, intervention, and follow-up. A poststudy survey of health care workers was also distributed and collected. In both clinics, the frequency of hand hygiene was poor at baseline (11% and 21%) but improved significantly after intervention (36% and 54%) and was maintained through the follow-up period (32% and 51%). Throughout the study, postcontact hand hygiene was observed significantly more often than precontact hand hygiene. In both clinics, health care workers reported a preference for soap and water; yet observations showed that when the intervention made gel sanitizer available, sanitizer use predominated. Fifty percent of the surveyed health care workers considered the introduction of gel sanitizer to be an effective motivating tool for improving hand hygiene. Hand hygiene performance by health care workers in outpatient clinics may be improved through promoting the use of gel sanitizer and using informational posters. Compared with surveys, direct observation by trained observers may provide more accurate information about worker preferences for hand hygiene tools.

Comparative analysis of a complement fixation assay and enzyme immunoassay to determine the seroprevalence of measles and varicella in a survey of healthcare workers

Seroprevalence surveys of healthcare workers for vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles and varicella, are essential for disease prevention and infection control programmes. The purpose of this study was to compare the complement fixation (CF) assay and an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to determine the prevalence of immunoglobulin G antibodies directed against measles and varicella viruses in healthcare workers. Antimeasles and antivaricella antibody titres were measured simultaneously in serum samples from healthcare workers employed at a Japanese university hospital, using the CF assay and an EIA. Serum samples were obtained from 898 healthcare workers. Seropositivity rates determined using the CF assay and EIA were 67.8% versus 94.0%, respectively, for measles, and 83.2% versus 97.6% for varicella. Compared with EIA, a nine- and 22-fold higher number of seronegative subjects was identified by the CF assay for measles and varicella, respectively. Differences between the CF assay and EIA in detecting seronegative or seropositive healthcare workers for measles and varicella suggest that undertaking a seroprevalence survey using an EIA, rather than a CF assay, would more accurately determine susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases, in healthcare settings.