Information, Attitude, and Behavior about Influenza And Pneumococcal Vaccines of Individuals Over 65 with Chronic Disease

Aysegul Karahan Gulsen, Emine Zeynep Tuzcular Vural, Işık Gönenç

Keywords: Influenza, adult vaccination, pneumococcal diseases, influenza vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine

Aim:

Influenza and pneumococcal disease not only increase morbidity and mortality of people in risk group but also cause serious economic and labor loss for countries. In our study, we aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of patients over age of 65 with chronic diseases about influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, to examine and discuss the rates of vaccination and factors affecting this, so how we can increase vaccination rates and awareness level of patients on this subject by determining obstacles to adult vaccination.

Method:

This descriptive cross-sectional study, was prepared using literature to determine knowledge, attitude and behaviors of influenza and pneumococcal disease and vaccines with chronic diseases over age of 65 at Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital between May-June 2018. It was conducted with 236 volunteers who completed the form completely. The analysis of data obtained was analyzed using NCSS2007 package program. Significance was evaluated at p<0.05 level.

Results:

Only 32.6% of the cases stated their doctor recommended the vaccine. 35.6% of the cases stated they had influenza vaccine regularly. We found that the higher the education level and the frequency of the doctor recommending the vaccine, the higher the vaccination rate (respectively:p=0.009, p=0.001, p<0.01). We observed as doctor's recommendation, education and income level increased, the level of knowledge about influenza vaccine increased (respectively:p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.003). 21.2% of the cases stated that they had regular pneumococcal vaccine. We found as the frequency of the doctor's recommendation of the vaccine increased, the frequency of patients having pneumococcal vaccine increased statistically significantly (p = 0.001).

Conclusions:

Doctor recommendation and education level are the most important determinants of increasing vaccination rates. Family physicians should inform their patients about adult vaccines, emphasize the efficacy and safety of vaccines, closely monitor their vaccination status, and raise awareness about adult vaccination.

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