Beliefs, attitudes and barriers associated with the uptake of the seasonal influenza vaccine among patients visiting primary healthcare clinics

Abstract

Objectives:To explore beliefs, attitudes, and barriers associated with uptake of the seasonal influenza vaccine among visitors to primary healthcare clinics.Methods:This was a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire-based study of 300 people visiting Family Medicine Centers, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between May 2017 and October 2017.Results:Most respondents reported that they never get vaccinated (63.3%), but most intend to get the vaccination in future. Only 7.7% of respondents had ever experienced side-effects from the influenza vaccine. Reported barriers to vaccination include :a desire to avoid medication, the fact that the Ministry of Health has not made vaccination obligatory, concerns about the side-effects of the vaccine, the belief that one is at low risk of acquiring influenza, and the idea that influenza is a simple disease with no need for prevention. The rate of vaccination was higher among males than females. More females than males said they refused the influenza vaccine because of concerns about side effects or having a phobia of injections.Conclusion:Although most respondents said they were concerned about influenza and believed the vaccine to be effective, this study revealed a low rate of influenza vaccination. More public education and better arrangements for vaccination are required in the healthcare setting to overcome several reported barriers to vaccination.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Barriers Influencing Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Uptake

“…The most common concern among the contributors in this study regarding the barriers to influenza vaccine was that they want to avoid vaccinations (58.6%), which is relatively close to a previous study conducted in Riyadh city in which 149 out of 207 (72%) participants gave the same reason [ 15 ].…”

“…A study published in 2018 conducted on patients visiting primary health-care clinics showed that one-third of patients thought influenza is a simple disease and there was no need to prevent it or vaccinate against it, half of them thought their chances of getting the disease are low, and a third do not believe the vaccine is effective. Almost half of our study population believes in all three [ 15 ]. In Germany specifically, a study was conducted to evaluate the reason for low vaccine uptake in patients with comorbid illnesses.…”

“…Surveys that were used previously and published [ 6 , 15 ] were used to design our questionnaire that included three parts. The first part included demographic characters including age, gender, occupation, education level, marital status, and comorbidities with emphasis on participant source of information regarding seasonal influenza and its vaccine.…”

Influenza vaccination coverage among splenectomized patients: an Italian study on the role of active recall in the vaccination compliance

“…12 The personal choice appears to be one of the main determinants of refusing vaccination; even this concept is found in several studies that underline how the skepticism toward the vaccine, the perception that the disease is not dangerous and the underestimation of the severity of one's own chronic state are deterrents for the influenza vaccination. [13][14][15] Few patients reported the decision of the GP of not to execute vaccination, an evaluation that does not follow national and international guidelines and which puts the patient's health in concrete risk of danger; this event is consistent with general evidence from the literature that report that physicians are more likely to vaccinate chronic patients than healthy ones. 16 Another determinant of non-vaccination would appear to be the chemotherapy treatment, although there is no contraindication to influenza vaccination during chemotherapy if strategies that do not affect the effectiveness of immunization and treatment are applied (e.g.…”

“…More evidence is found regarding the compliance of the chronic patients; the literature shows that chronic patients tend to be skeptical about the importance of vaccination and that they underestimate the consequences of the disease, with subsequently low vaccination coverage . [13][14][15]20 All studies agree that a careful and scrupulous information and education of the patient is necessary to increase adherence to vaccination; [13][14][15]20 the hospital setting, that is the setting of our immunization program, seems to be an ideal scenario for the vaccine promotion. The studies that have dealt with the issue of strategies to increase vaccine compliance assure that patients who receive preventive care are more likely to get their influenza shot than those who do not receive; furthermore, the health professionals involved in the care of patients affected by chronic conditions should encourage patients and family members to get immunized to prevent infectious diseases or minimize the risk.…”