TY - JOUR
T1 - Influenza vaccination status and influenza-related perspectives and practices among US physicians
AU - Cowan, Anne E.
AU - Winston, Carla A.
AU - Davis, Matthew M.
AU - Wortley, Pascale M.
AU - Clark, Sarah J.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
PY - 2006/5
Y1 - 2006/5
N2 - Background and Objective: The influenza vaccination rate among US healthcare workers (HCWs) remains low. This survey was designed to assess influenza vaccination status and related knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among a national sample of primary care physicians and subspecialists likely to see patients at high risk for complications from influenza. Methods: We used a mail survey of a national random sample of 495 family physicians (FPs), 491 internists (IMs), 498 geriatricians (GERs), and 497 pulmonologists (PUDs). Results: The overall response rate was 38%. Almost all respondents (87%) reported receiving an influenza vaccine during the 2003-2004 influenza season, with no significant difference across specialty groups (84% FPs, 87% IMs, 87% GERs, 91% PUDs). In a multivariate model, adjusted for physician specialty and age group, significant predictors of vaccination were: strong agreement that HCWs have professional responsibility to be vaccinated, access to vaccination on site and free of charge, strong worksite recommendation for HCWs to be vaccinated, and strong agreement that benefits of vaccination outweigh risk of side effects. Conclusions: Physicians reported a high influenza vaccination rate. To improve these rates further, with likely benefits for other HCWs, worksite policies that facilitate access to vaccination and documentation of reductions in nosocomial influenza associated with HCW vaccination should continue to be pursued.
AB - Background and Objective: The influenza vaccination rate among US healthcare workers (HCWs) remains low. This survey was designed to assess influenza vaccination status and related knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among a national sample of primary care physicians and subspecialists likely to see patients at high risk for complications from influenza. Methods: We used a mail survey of a national random sample of 495 family physicians (FPs), 491 internists (IMs), 498 geriatricians (GERs), and 497 pulmonologists (PUDs). Results: The overall response rate was 38%. Almost all respondents (87%) reported receiving an influenza vaccine during the 2003-2004 influenza season, with no significant difference across specialty groups (84% FPs, 87% IMs, 87% GERs, 91% PUDs). In a multivariate model, adjusted for physician specialty and age group, significant predictors of vaccination were: strong agreement that HCWs have professional responsibility to be vaccinated, access to vaccination on site and free of charge, strong worksite recommendation for HCWs to be vaccinated, and strong agreement that benefits of vaccination outweigh risk of side effects. Conclusions: Physicians reported a high influenza vaccination rate. To improve these rates further, with likely benefits for other HCWs, worksite policies that facilitate access to vaccination and documentation of reductions in nosocomial influenza associated with HCW vaccination should continue to be pursued.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ajic.2005.09.007
DO - 10.1016/j.ajic.2005.09.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 16679171
AN - SCOPUS:33646179381
SN - 0196-6553
VL - 34
SP - 164
EP - 169
JO - American Journal of Infection Control
JF - American Journal of Infection Control
IS - 4
ER -
