UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

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

Choucair, Khalil; El Sawda, Jack; Assaad, Sarah; El Chakhtoura, Nadim G; Hassouna, Habiba; Sidani, Nisreen; Yasmin, Mohamad; ... Kanafani, Zeina A; + view all (2021) Knowledge, Perception, Attitudes and Behavior on Influenza Immunization and the Determinants of Vaccination. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health , 11 (1) pp. 34-41. 10.2991/jegh.k.200906.001. Green open access

[thumbnail of 125944520.pdf]
Preview
Text
125944520.pdf - Other

Download (458kB) | Preview

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.

Type: Article
Title: Knowledge, Perception, Attitudes and Behavior on Influenza Immunization and the Determinants of Vaccination
Location: Switzerland
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.2991/jegh.k.200906.001
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.2991/jegh.k.200906.001
Language: English
Additional information: © 2020 Atlantis Press International B.V. This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).
Keywords: Influenza, KAB, determinants of vaccination, health-belief model, healthcare workers, perception, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Health Personnel, Humans, Immunization, Influenza Vaccines, Influenza, Human, Lebanon, Male, Middle Aged, Patients, Students, Surveys and Questionnaires, Vaccination, Young Adult
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Epidemiology and Public Health
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10165017
Downloads since deposit
14Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item