This document summarizes a study on the shingles vaccine. The study uses a qualitative research design to interview healthcare workers about their experiences with the shingles virus and vaccine. The interviews aim to understand why so few healthcare workers receive the shingles vaccine, despite being at higher risk. The document provides background information on shingles and its symptoms. It also reviews the study's sampling method, interview questions, and strengths and weaknesses of the qualitative research design.

1. A Study of the Shingles Vaccine
By Linda Langevoort
PHE3025 – Research Methods in Public Health
South University Online
November 18, 2014

2. Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Synopsis
3. Symptoms of Shingles
4. History
5. Antecedents to Shingles
6. Epidemiology of Shingles
7. Qualitative Research Design
8. Sampling Plan
9. The Interview
10. Research strengths
11. Research weaknesses

3. Introduction
Shingles (or herpes-zoster),comes from the varicella-zoster
virus, (the same virus as chicken pox). People
primarily susceptible to the virus are mature adults of
the age 60 and over, or persons with weakened immune
systems, or pregnant women and newborns. The virus
lies dormant in the body and can be triggered at any
time to emerge. The reason for this emergence is not
completely understood, but a vaccine called the
varicella-zoster vaccine or Zostavax, is available for
those who do not have a present case of the Shingles.

4. Synopsis
Healthcare personnel are recommended to have certain
vaccinations (if not already immunized) to protect from
certain diseases due to risk of workplace exposures that
could be present. (Immunization Action Coalition, 2014)
Those diseases are Hepatitis B, Influenza,
Measles/Mumps/Rubella(MMR),varicella (chickenpox),
Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis, and meningococcal.
(Immunization Action Coalition, 2014)
In this study I would like to research why so few
healthcare personnel receive the Shingles vaccine and
the reasons behind it.

5. Symptoms
The Shingles presents as a stripe of blisters. Most
commonly it is found on the torso and wraps around.
Some cases have been reported in one eye or the side of
the neck or face. The small lesions are itchy and painful.
They progress to be blisters filled with fluid. The blisters
break open and then scab over in 4-5 weeks. The scab
falls off and pain and itching subside. Sometimes after
symptoms subside, some pain may persist at the site
after the blisters heal. Other symptoms common are
fever, chills, achiness, fatigue or headache. (The Mayo Clinic, 2011)

6. History of Shingles
“Clinical observations of the relationship between
varicella and herpes zoster were made in 1888 by von
Bokay, when children without evidence of varicella
immunity acquired varicella after contact with herpes
zoster. VZV was isolated from vesicular fluid of both
chickenpox and zoster lesions in cell culture by Thomas
Weller in 1954. Subsequent laboratory studies of the
virus led to the development of a live attenuated
varicella vaccine in Japan in the 1970s. The vaccine was
licensed for use in the United States in March 1995.”
(The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012)

7. Antecedents to Shingles Triggers can be:
-Stress
-Stressful life events
-Depression
-Age
-Nutritional Status
-Presence of other disorders
-Having a compromised
immune system.
-Personality
psychopathology
(Huff Post Science, Depression) (Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 2014)

8. Varicella Epidemiology
Reservoir: The human body
Transmission: Direct contact or air
droplet.
Communicability: One - two days
before.
Four-five days after onset of rash.
Can be longer in those
immunocompromised.
Epidemiology
(Epidemiologist: Jobs, Careers & Salary Outlook) (The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012)

9. ResearchDesign Technique
The research design used in this study is qualitative and
the process is by interviewing. The study hopefully will
uncover why healthcare personnel do not want the
Shingles vaccine and why.

10. Population:
Healthcare personnel
(doctors, nurses, aids, lab
workers, etc.)
Selection:
Random
Gender:
Males and females
Variables of the study:
Interview questions
(Creswell, J., pp. 158-161, 2014)
Sampling Plan

11. The Interview
Have you ever had
the Shingles or the
Shingles vaccine?
Interview
Questions
Why did you/ did
you not have the
Shingles vaccine?
What are your
primary job duties?
What is your age?
Does the
healthcare agency
you are employed
at pay for the
vaccine for
workers?
Did you have the
chicken pox at any
time in your life?

12. Strengths of the Design
It is unbiased.
No inferences are made
in the questioning.
No hypotheses were
drawn while conducting
the interviews.
Analysis was simple and
straightforward.
Answers can be used to
better understand the
healthcare professionals’
opinion.

13. Weakness of the Design
There is no statistical
significance.
Reliability of the
answers.
Small sample group.
Based on inquiry
alone.

14. References
Creswell, J., 2014. Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches, 4th Edition, Sage Publications, Inc.
Huff Post Science. (Producer). (2014, April 23). Depression [Web Photo]. Retrieved from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-rottenberg/why-there-will-be-no-cure-for-depression_b_4824289.html
Immunization Action Coalition. (2014, March).Healthcare personnel vaccination recommendations. Retrieved from
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2017.pdf
Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience. (2014, May).Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia: An examination of psychological
antecedents. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4140624/
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012, May). Varicella epidemiology and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html
The Mayo Clinic. (2011, September 1). Shingles. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/
shingles/basics/definition/con-20019574