Knowledge, Perception, Attitudes and Behavior on Influenza Immunization and the Determinants of Vaccination

Authors

Khalil Choucair^1, , Jack El Sawda², Sarah Assaad^3, , Nadim G. El Chakhtoura⁴, Habiba Hassouna^5, , Nisreen Sidani⁶, Mohamad Yasmin^4, , Ali Rteil⁶, Souha S. Kanj⁶, Zeina A. Kanafani^{6, *}

¹Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, USA

²Department of Internal Medicine, Mckeesport Internal Medicine Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

³Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Cambridge, UK

⁴Department of Internal Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

⁵Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

⁶Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

^*Corresponding author. Email: zk10@aub.edu.lb

DOI

10.2991/jegh.k.200906.001How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Influenza; determinants of vaccination; healthcare workers; health-belief model; KAB; perception

Abstract

Background: We sought to determine the knowledge of, perception, attitudes, and behaviors toward influenza virus and immunization, and the determinants of vaccination among students, patients, and Healthcare Workers (HCWs) at the American University of Beirut and its affiliated Medical Center.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between October 2016 and January 2017 utilizing a self-administered questionnaire that was provided to 247 randomly selected adult participants. Data collected included socio-demographic characteristics, prior vaccination against influenza, knowledge, perception, attitudes, and behaviors toward influenza and influenza immunization. A multivariable regression model was used to evaluate for independent associations between the different variables and regular or yearly vaccination as a primary outcome.

Results: The overall survey response rate was 77%. A substantial proportion of respondents (47.4%) had never received the influenza vaccine. Only 10.2% of students, 19.1% of patients, and 35.6% of HCWs reported regular or yearly influenza vaccine uptake. HCWs had the lowest knowledge score about influenza and its vaccine despite high self-reported levels of knowledge. Barriers to vaccinations included lack of information (31%), fear of adverse effects (29%), and a perception of not being at risk (23%). Several factors were independently associated with regular or yearly vaccination uptake including having children (adjusted OR = 3.8; 95% CI 1.2–12.5), a “very good” self-reported level of knowledge (OR = 16.3; 95% CI 1.4–194.2) and being afraid of the consequences of influenza (OR = 0.2; 95% CI 0.1–0.6).

Conclusion: Adherence rates with regular or yearly vaccination against influenza remain low across all study groups. We were able to identify predictors as well as barriers to vaccination. Future awareness and vaccination campaigns should specifically aim at correcting misconceptions about vaccination, particularly among HCWs, along with addressing the barriers to vaccination. Predictors of vaccination should be integrated in the design of future campaigns.

Copyright

© 2020 Atlantis Press International B.V.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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TY  - JOUR
AU  - Khalil Choucair
AU  - Jack El Sawda
AU  - Sarah Assaad
AU  - Nadim G. El Chakhtoura
AU  - Habiba Hassouna
AU  - Nisreen Sidani
AU  - Mohamad Yasmin
AU  - Ali Rteil
AU  - Souha S. Kanj
AU  - Zeina A. Kanafani
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/09/11
TI  - Knowledge, Perception, Attitudes and Behavior on Influenza Immunization and the Determinants of Vaccination
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 34
EP  - 41
VL  - 11
IS  - 1
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/jegh.k.200906.001
DO  - 10.2991/jegh.k.200906.001
ID  - Choucair2020
ER  -