Darbo tikslas. Įvertinti Lietuvos sveikatos priežiūros įstaigų darbuotojų požiūrį į vakcinaciją. Metodika. Kad įvertinti Lietuvos sveikatos priežiūros įstaigų darbuotojų požiūrį į vakcinaciją, buvo atliktas paplitimo tyrimas. Buvo apklausta 1693 respondentai, dirbantys asmens sveikatos priežiūros įstaigose. Duomenys apdoroti SPSS (13) kompiuterine programa. Analizei taikytas Pearson‘o χ2 testas ir statistiniam išvadų tikrinimui pasirinktas reikšmingumo lygmuo 0,05. Rezultatai. Anketinė apklausa parodė, kad Lietuvos sveikatos priežiūros įstaigų darbuotojai teigiamai žiūri į vakcinaciją. Nors skiepijasi 54,8% bendrosios praktikos gydytojų, 55,9% terapeutų ir kitų specialistų bei 51,6% slaugytojų, visgi jie nurodė, kad vakcina žymiai efektyvesnė ir mažiau kainuoja nei kitos medicininės paslaugos – 67,0% bendrosios praktikos gydytojų, 69,1% terapeutų ir kitų specialistų bei 60,3% slaugytojų ir kad skiepai duoda žymiai daugiau naudos nei žalos (84,9% bendrosios praktikos gydytojų, 87,5% terapeutų ir kitų specialistų bei 71,7% slaugytojų). Iš dažniausiai nurodytų nesiskiepijimo priežasčių, dauguma respondentų nurodė, kad nesiskiepija nuo gripo dėl to, kad saugosi nuo gripo stiprindami sveikatą (19,3% bendrosios praktikos gydytojų, 18,9% terapeutų ir kitų specialistų bei 15,8% slaugytojų), niekada gripu neserga (20,0% bendrosios praktikos gydytojų, 17,0% terapeutų ir kitų specialistų bei 15,2% slaugytojų), įgyjamas natūralus imunitetas (22,2% bendrosios praktikos gydytojų, 8,0%... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Objective: To determine the Lithuanian health care institutions workers opinion about vaccination. Methods: In order to determine the Lithuanian health care institutions workers opinion about vaccination spread research was performed. Were polled 1693 respondents working in health care institutions. The data was analysed using SPSS computer program. There was used Pearson Chi-Square test and to check statistical reliability was choose the difference statistically insignificant 0,05. Results: Questionnaire date shows positive Lithuanian health care institutions workers opinion about vaccination. Even though only 54,8% of common practice physicians, 55,9% therapeutists and other specialists and 51,6% nurses were vaccinated themselves but they indicated that vaccination is more effective and less expensive than other medical service – 67,0% of common practice physicians, 69,1% therapeutists and other specialists and 60,3% nurses and that vaccination is more useful than harmful (84,9% of common practice physicians, 87,5% therapeutists and other specialists and 71,7% nurses). The major reason why the respondents are against vaccination, especially against influenza virus, is that they strengthen their health to protect themselves against virus (19,3% of common practice physicians, 18,9% therapeutists and other specialists and 15,8% nurses), never have flu (20,0% of common practice physicians, 17,0% therapeutists and other specialists and 15,2% nurses), and acquire natural immunity... [to full text]

Objective¡G Influenza is an important public health problem, and may seriously damage the elderly population. Although influenza vaccination is a safe, and can significantly reduces morbidity and influenza -related complication mortality in elderly people, however, the influenza vaccination rate did not reach expected goals. Therefore, to explore the potential factors that affect the vaccination rate becomes a critical research question. The purpose of this study was to apply the Health Belief Model, which includes demographic, health state and healthy behaviour, knowledge about influenza and influenza vaccine, perceived susceptility, perceived seriousness, perceived benefit and barrier, and cues to action variables, to understand factors motivating the community elderly people to receive influenza vaccination. Design: The sampling designs were stratified and systematic sampling with total 700 sample. During June 2007 , a structured questionnaire was sent to the elderly people¡]¡Ù65 years¡^in Kaohsiung city¡C Result: The male and female sample distribution rates were equally in 50%, average age was 72.87 years old and 59.6% elderly people had chronic disease (such as hypertension, heart disease and diabetes). Chi-square tests showed that ¡§chronic disease¡¨, ¡§health examination¡¨, ¡§always seek care from specific physician¡¨, ¡§exercise ¡§, ¡§ recognize about influenza and influenza vaccination¡¨, ¡§ perceived seriousness¡¨, ¡§ perceived benefit and barrier¡¨, were significantly associated with having ever been vaccinated. Logistic regression results indicated that ¡§think the influenza vaccination can effectively prevent influenza¡¨, ¡§regular health examination¡¨, ¡§cues to action¡¨ and ¡§perceived barriers¡¨ were found to be the significant predictors of acceptance of influenza vaccination. Conclusions¡GThe study results indicated that health care worker¡¦s attitude about influenza and influenza vaccination will directly influence community elderly people's cognition. Therefore, by educating the health care worker about influenza seriousness and the vaccination effectiveness may successfully promote vaccination rate. Through health education activities in the community, it may increase correct cognition about influenza and the benefit of vaccination. In addition, the health department needs to strengthen the health policy marketing in order to increase influenza vaccinations rate, reduce morbidity and influenza -related complication mortality.

Objective: Pregnancy has been recognized as a risk factor for severe pandemic influenza illness and this “vulnerable” group is suggested to be heightened alertness to the disease by WHO. This systemic review aims to identify the factors affecting the uptake of influenza vaccination among pregnant women as the immunization uptake among this particular group of population is low or suboptimal worldwide. Methods: Systematic literature reviews were conducted by using MEDLINE and PubMed with the key words: “influenza vaccination uptake” and “pregnant women” in the period of January 2004 to January 2013. It was further supplemented by a manual search for literatures and articles on the WHO website, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, Google Scholar, and reference lists of reviews captured by initial searches. Results: Of the 222 articles identified, 10 studies were found to be relevant in this system literature review. Influenza vaccine coverage among pregnant women was highly diverse (6.2-76%) among the 10 studies. Overall, pregnant women were more likely to take the vaccination against influenza if they: (1) believed the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the potential barriers, (2) believed the influenza was severe and they were highly susceptible to the disease, and (3) were influenced by the positive cues to action such as recommendation from health care professionals and the experience of the influenza vaccination uptake. Conclusion: Overall, greater emphasis on vaccine effectiveness and safety, and the recommendation from health care providers is needed to increase the number of pregnant women influenza immunization in the future public health campaigns. / published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

Despite the World Health Organization identifying pregnant women as the highest priority group for seasonal influenza vaccination, many pregnant women remain unaware of the recommendation and have substantial concerns about the adverse effects of the vaccine on them and their unborn foetuses. Few interventions have been conducted to improve influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women. Among these studies, the results are inconsistent and the quality is generally low. Brief education has been previously shown to improve women’s health practices during pregnancy. An open-label randomized control trial was conducted to assess the effect of providing brief education on influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women. A total of 163 unvaccinated pregnant women in at least their second trimester were recruited from antenatal clinics of four public hospitals in Hong Kong. They were randomized to receive standard care or a one-to-one brief education session that provided an overview of the safety and benefits of the vaccine to both pregnant women and their foetuses. Participants were followed up by telephone at two to three weeks postpartum to ascertain vaccination status. The primary study outcome was the influenza vaccine uptake rate and the second study outcomes were the proportion of participants initiating discussion about influenza vaccine with their health care providers, the proportion attempting to be vaccinated, and their knowledge of influenza infection and vaccination. A total of 163 participants were recruited with 155 (95%) participants completing follow-up. The overall influenza vaccine uptake rate was 17.8%. When compared with those receiving standard care, the vaccination rate was higher among participants who received the intervention (23.5% vs. 12.2%; p=0.06). In addition, the increase in the rate of self-initiated discussion with HCPs before and after the intervention was significantly higher in intervention group (26.7% vs. 9.3%; p<0.001) but not in standard care group (13.3% vs. 8%; p=0.481). Among participants who did not receive influenza vaccine, pregnant women in intervention group were substantially more likely to have made an unsuccessful attempt to be vaccinated (39.3% vs. 9.2%; p<0.001). Almost one-third of the pregnant women who had attempted to receive the vaccine (n=13) reported they received advice against vaccination during pregnancy from HCPs. If participants had not been advised against influenza vaccine and were successfully vaccinated, the overall difference in the vaccine uptake rate between the two treatment groups would have been statistically significant (34.6% vs. 18.3%; p=0.02). Brief education can be one strategy to improve vaccination uptake rates among pregnant women. In addition, it is clear from this and other studies that recommendations from HCPs substantially influence vaccination behaviours among pregnant women, both positively and negatively. Therefore, multicomponent approaches should be considered in future vaccination programmes and the synergistic effect of both brief education and HCP recommendations should be further evaluated. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Philosophy

Class of 2016 Abstracts / Objectives: To compare the minimum vaccination age to receive an influenza vaccine of rural and urban pharmacies. Rural pharmacies are defined in all Arizona pharmacies in counties other than Pima or Maricopa, urban pharmacies are defined as all pharmacies within the Tucson city limits. Methods: Pharmacies were called for a phone interview asking what the minimum age someone needs to be to receive an influenza vaccination from their store is. Pharmacies were called during their operating hours during a 4-week period at the end of January and early February. Results: 269 pharmacies were included in the study. Pharmacies consisted of 153 rural pharmacies and 116 urban pharmacies. The median minimum vaccination age for both rural and urban pharmacies was 8. Overall, there was found to be no significant difference between the minimum vaccination age between rural and urban pharmacies (p = 0.242). Conclusions: The minimum age to receive an influenza appears to be similar between rural and urban pharmacies.

Class of 2016 Abstract / Objectives: To determine the prevalence and incidence of community pharmacies not vaccinating children down to six years of age and to identify the reasons for non-compliance with Arizona State Board administrative rule R4-23-411. Subjects: 103 community retail pharmacies from six corporations in the Tucson metropolitan area established by December 2014. Methods: Funnel questionnaire administered via phone call to collect pharmacist response if he or she would vaccinate a six-year-old child; data for reasons why he or she would or would not vaccinate and gender of pharmacist was also collected. Results: Responses were collected from 103 pharmacists (male n = 55, female n = 48). 87% (n =90) of pharmacies stated they would not vaccinate a six-year-old, while 13% (n =13) would vaccinate. The rationale for not vaccinating varied from corporate policy (45%) to state law (37%). Conclusions: The majority of six retail pharmacy chains in Tucson, Arizona are not vaccinating down to six-years old, although Arizona administrative amendments allow pharmacists to do so. More pharmacies that would choose not to vaccinate may be related to a better understanding of corporate policies versus state administrative rule change.

Seasonal influenza produces substantial disease within the United States every year. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines for influenza, millions of individuals go unvaccinated each flu season, with notable differences across racial/ethnic groups. Using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), I examine vaccination rates among non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics during the 2000-2009 influenza seasons. After developing a new method that addresses shortcomings of BRFSS vaccination measures, I find that non-Hispanic whites exhibit higher vaccination rates than Hispanics. Through a series of logistic regression models I show that the disparities between non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics narrow after controlling for healthcare coverage and socioeconomic characteristics. This suggests that seasonal influenza vaccination may be improved among U.S. Hispanics by addressing structural barriers in receiving the vaccine, especially access to health care.

This paper examines the correlates of seasonal flu vaccination in Canada between 2000 and 2011. In terms of the socio-economic characteristics of the population that relate to higher take-up, my findings are consistent with the previous literature. Specifically, the most important predictors of vaccination are the risk factors: age and chronic conditions. My results also suggest that both novel respiratory disease outbreaks and provincial immunization program design are important determinants of the seasonal flu vaccine take-up. The absence of a separate vaccine intended to protect from a novel virus during its epidemic could increase the seasonal flu vaccine take-up. In cases when a separate vaccine is offered, the seasonal flu vaccine take-up depends on the timing of vaccines’ delivery and the extent of prior influenza immunization coverage for a specific population subgroup in a province.

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This thesis deals with the evaluation of vaccination against influenza among students of University of South Bohemia, their opinions and their approach to the issue of vaccination against influenza. The theoretical part is focused on historical, clinical, diagnostic, virological, immunological and epidemiological aspects of influenza vaccine development and vaccination against influenza. The aim of the practical part was to determine how widespread is influenza vaccination among students of University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, map their opinion on the vaccination and to assess their awareness regarding vaccination against influenza and influenza in general. For research purposes a questionnaire survey was distributed among students of the University of South Bohemia. The selection of respondents was conducted by stratified random selection so that it covered approximately 5% occupancy of each faculty. This research preceded a preliminary research to determine the suitability of the chosen method of data collection. As a data collection instrument was chosen the method of questioning by the form of questionnaires. Quota for the research was to study the respondents at the South Bohemian University and studied faculty. In total 468 questionnaires were evaluated. The results of the research shows that students of University of South Bohemia underestimate vaccination, and most of them have never been vaccinated against this disease. In spite of this is, the results show that the awareness of students is good and among faculties except the Faculty of Health and Social Care, there is not a significant difference. Faculty of Health and Social achieved in the overall awareness significantly higher result than other faculty. Thus confirming the hypothesis that there are differences between students' awareness of the Health and Social faculty and students of other faculties. The aim of this thesis is to alert students of the University of South Bohemia about the pros of influenza vaccination and increase their awareness in this area.