AUTHOR=Ali Iftikhar , Ijaz Muhammad , Rehman Inayat U. , Rahim Afaq , Ata Humera 

TITLE=Knowledge, Attitude, Awareness, and Barriers Toward Influenza Vaccination Among Medical Doctors at Tertiary Care Health Settings in Peshawar, Pakistan–A Cross-Sectional Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2018

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00173

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2018.00173

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Objective: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and awareness of medical doctors towards influenza vaccination and the reasons for not getting vaccinated.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among medical doctors in three major tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. A web-based, pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection. 
Results: A total of (n=300) medical doctors were invited, however only (n=215) participated in the study with a response rate of 71.7%.  Among the participants, 95.3% (n=205) were males  with a mean age of 28.67±3.89 years. By designation, 121(56.3%) were trainee medical officers and 40 (18.6%) were house officers. The  majority had a job experience of 1-2 years (n=102, 60.6%). Of the total sample, 38 (17.7%) doctors reported having  received some kind of vaccination, whereas only 19 (8.84%) were vaccinated against influenza. The results identified that the major barriers towards influenza vaccinations included (1) a general perception among the health-care professionals that influenza is not a serious condition and therefore not worth vaccinating against (relative importance index RII=0.775), (2) the non-compulsory requirement for vaccination (RII=0.756), (3) fear of needles (RII=0.713) and (4) the associated side-effects or safety concerns (RII=0.681). Additionally, 156(72.6%) of doctors were not aware of the influenza immunization guidelines published by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Physicians obtained a high score (8.27 ± 1.61) of knowledge and understanding regarding influenza and its vaccination followed by medical officers (8.06 ±1.37). Regression analysis revealed that gender was significantly associated with the knowledge score with males having a higher score (8.0+1.39) than females (6.80+1.61). Conclusion: A very low proportion of doctors were vaccinated against influenza, despite  the published guidelines and recommendations. Strategies that address multiple aspects like increasing awareness and the importance of the influenza vaccine, the international recommendations and enhancing access and availability of the vaccine are needed to improve its coverage and health outcomes.