Numan Mehmet KENGER, Kudret CİNVİZ, Sultan BAYAL, Elif ÖĞRETMEN, Suzan HAVLİOĞLU
Acta Medica Ruha - 2026;4(2):37-43
Introductıon: Biological hazards are the most significant factors putting healthcare workers at risk due to their working conditions and are also cited as the cause of many infectious diseases. Objective: This study examined the knowledge and attitudes of nurses working in a university hospital regarding biological risks and the vaccinations required to protect against occupational infectious diseases. Methods: The population of the descriptive study consisted of 524 nurses working at Harran University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, and the study was completed with 250 volunteer nurses between 01.09.2025 and 30.12.2025. Data were collected using a 20-question introductory information form prepared in line with the literature and through face-to-face interviews. Results: 72.4% of nurses stated that they had received training on biological risks. When it came to protecting themselves against these risks, 89.2% cited the use of personal protective equipment and 76.4% cited hand hygiene as effective methods. In terms of vaccination status, 82.0% of nurses had received the hepatitis B vaccine, 26.4% the hepatitis A vaccine, 17.6% the chickenpox vaccine and 14.4% the seasonal influenza vaccine. Conclusion: The study's findings suggest that, although nurses have some knowledge of biological risks, their understanding of and adherence to recommended vaccination and immunisation practices is inadequate. To protect healthcare workers against biological risks, it is recommended that regular in-service training is increased, vaccine tracking is carried out systematically, and information campaigns aimed at reducing vaccine hesitancy are planned.
