Healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitude and acceptance of influenza vaccination in Saudi Arabia: a multicenter cross-sectional study. 2019

Thamir M Alshammari, and Kazeem B Yusuff, and Muhammad Majid Aziz, and Gehad M Subaie
College of Pharmacy, University of Hail, P.O. Box 6166, Hail City, zip code 81442, Saudi Arabia. Thamer.alshammary@gmail.com.

BACKGROUND All healthcare professionals (HCPs) are at high risk of influenza infection. Therefore, immunization is recommended for all HCPs. Due to safety and effectiveness concerns, HCPs have a low vaccination rate. This study was designed to explore the attitude, awareness and knowledge of HCPs toward vaccination for influenza. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed during October-November 2016. A total of 405 questionnaires were distributed in 8 major hospitals in Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire consisting of 31 questions and 5 sections was administered. Statistical Analysis Software (SAS®) version 9.2 was used to analyze the data. RESULTS A total of 364 HCPs responded to the study survey, which is a response rate of 90%. A large proportion (61.8%) of participants were female. The majority of the participants were nurses (60.4%). More than half of the respondents (57.7%) were working in government-run hospitals. Among all the participants, approximately 67.6% of HCPs were vaccinated. The majority (84.1%) of HCPs believed that influenza vaccine prevents the flu. Furthermore, approximately 75% of participants believed that HCPs can be more susceptible to influenza infections than other people. The majority of participants (89.6%) knew the proper signs and symptoms of influenza. HCPs' belief that vaccination prevents influenza infection (OR = 3.93, 95% CI = 1.97-7.82), their awareness of the Scientific Committee for Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination (SCIPV)'s guidelines (OR = 2. 13, 95% CI = 1.16-3.90) and the presence of the standing orders regarding influenza vaccine (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.01-3.21), were the predictors for receipt of influenza vaccine by HCPs. Many (58.0%) respondents believed that vaccine safety concerns is a major barrier to the vaccination of HCPs. Some misconceptions, such as influenza infection due to vaccination (42.3%) and incorrect perceptions about the symptoms of influenza in adults (50.5%), were found. CONCLUSIONS The acceptance of and participation in influenza vaccination by HCPs in Saudi Arabia appears to have markedly increased in the 2016 season. Continuing evaluation of vaccination practices is necessary, and more training programs are needed in the future.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007114 Immunization Deliberate stimulation of the host's immune response. ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION involves administration of ANTIGENS or IMMUNOLOGIC ADJUVANTS. PASSIVE IMMUNIZATION involves administration of IMMUNE SERA or LYMPHOCYTES or their extracts (e.g., transfer factor, immune RNA) or transplantation of immunocompetent cell producing tissue (thymus or bone marrow). Immunologic Stimulation,Immunostimulation,Sensitization, Immunologic,Variolation,Immunologic Sensitization,Immunological Stimulation,Sensitization, Immunological,Stimulation, Immunologic,Immunizations,Immunological Sensitization,Immunological Sensitizations,Immunological Stimulations,Sensitizations, Immunological,Stimulation, Immunological,Stimulations, Immunological,Variolations
D007251 Influenza, Human An acute viral infection in humans involving the respiratory tract. It is marked by inflammation of the NASAL MUCOSA; the PHARYNX; and conjunctiva, and by headache and severe, often generalized, myalgia. Grippe,Human Flu,Human Influenza,Influenza in Humans,Influenza,Flu, Human,Human Influenzas,Influenza in Human,Influenzas,Influenzas, Human
D007252 Influenza Vaccines Vaccines used to prevent infection by viruses in the family ORTHOMYXOVIRIDAE. It includes both killed and attenuated vaccines. The composition of the vaccines is changed each year in response to antigenic shifts and changes in prevalence of influenza virus strains. The flu vaccines may be mono- or multi-valent, which contains one or more ALPHAINFLUENZAVIRUS and BETAINFLUENZAVIRUS strains. Flu Vaccine,Influenzavirus Vaccine,Monovalent Influenza Vaccine,Universal Flu Vaccine,Universal Influenza Vaccine,Flu Vaccines,High-Dose Trivalent Influenza Vaccine,Influenza Vaccine,Influenza Virus Vaccine,Influenza Virus Vaccines,Influenzavirus Vaccines,Intranasal Live-Attenuated Influenza Vaccine,LAIV Vaccine,Monovalent Influenza Vaccines,Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine,Trivalent Influenza Vaccine,Trivalent Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine,Universal Flu Vaccines,Universal Influenza Vaccines,Flu Vaccine, Universal,High Dose Trivalent Influenza Vaccine,Influenza Vaccine, Monovalent,Influenza Vaccine, Quadrivalent,Influenza Vaccine, Trivalent,Influenza Vaccine, Universal,Intranasal Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine,Vaccine, Flu,Vaccine, Influenza,Vaccine, Influenza Virus,Vaccine, Influenzavirus,Vaccine, LAIV,Vaccine, Monovalent Influenza,Vaccine, Quadrivalent Influenza,Vaccine, Trivalent Influenza,Virus Vaccine, Influenza
D007722 Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL). Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D008297 Male Males
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D005260 Female Females
D006282 Health Personnel Men and women working in the provision of health services, whether as individual practitioners or employees of health institutions and programs, whether or not professionally trained, and whether or not subject to public regulation. (From A Discursive Dictionary of Health Care, 1976) Health Care Professionals,Health Care Providers,Healthcare Providers,Healthcare Workers,Health Care Professional,Health Care Provider,Healthcare Provider,Healthcare Worker,Personnel, Health,Professional, Health Care,Provider, Health Care,Provider, Healthcare
D006761 Hospitals Institutions with an organized medical staff which provide medical care to patients. Hospital

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