<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0006_s_006_w2aab2b8c10b1b7b1aab1c16b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Vaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended for all healthcare workers including physicians in Slovenia to protect vulnerable individuals and reduce transmission of influenza viruses. The aim of our study is to determine the uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination among Slovenian physicians, to identify factors associated with that vaccination and assess their attitudes and beliefs regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0006_s_007_w2aab2b8c10b1b7b1aab1c16b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>A cross-sectional survey was performed among physician members of the Slovenian Medical Chamber. The link to the anonymous web-based questionnaire was sent to 8,297 physicians. We estimated the overall proportion of physicians who vaccinate against influenza, while the possible associations with collected explanatory variables were explored in univariate analyses.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0006_s_008_w2aab2b8c10b1b7b1aab1c16b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>The response rate to the survey was 10.8%. 75.9% (95% CI: 73.1–78.7%) physicians vaccinate themselves against influenza (regularly or occasionally) and 24.1% (95% CI: 21.2–26.8%) do not vaccinate (not any more or never). In univariate analysis only, the area of work was statistically significant when associated with vaccinating against influenza (p=0.002). Among physicians who expressed some misconceptions regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases (it is better to overcome disease naturally as vaccines pose a higher risk than disease) the proportion of vaccinated against influenza was low (43.2%; 95% CI: 27.9–58.4%, 27.3%; 95% CI: 7.1–47.5%).</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0006_s_009_w2aab2b8c10b1b7b1aab1c16b4Aa"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Not trusting in vaccination or professional recommendations regarding vaccination and some misconceptions regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases may influence the decision to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza among Slovenian physicians.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionVaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended for all healthcare workers including physicians in Slovenia to protect vulnerable individuals and reduce transmission of influenza viruses. The aim of our study is to determine the uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination among Slovenian physicians, to identify factors associated with that vaccination and assess their attitudes and beliefs regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was performed among physician members of the Slovenian Medical Chamber. The link to the anonymous web-based questionnaire was sent to 8,297 physicians. We estimated the overall proportion of physicians who vaccinate against influenza, while the possible associations with collected explanatory variables were explored in univariate analyses.ResultsThe response rate to the survey was 10.8%. 75.9% (95% CI: 73.1–78.7%) physicians vaccinate themselves against influenza (regularly or occasionally) and 24.1% (95% CI: 21.2–26.8%) do not vaccinate (not any more or never). In univariate analysis only, the area of work was statistically significant when associated with vaccinating against influenza (p=0.002). Among physicians who expressed some misconceptions regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases (it is better to overcome disease naturally as vaccines pose a higher risk than disease) the proportion of vaccinated against influenza was low (43.2%; 95% CI: 27.9–58.4%, 27.3%; 95% CI: 7.1–47.5%).ConclusionNot trusting in vaccination or professional recommendations regarding vaccination and some misconceptions regarding vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases may influence the decision to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza among Slovenian physicians.

Acceptance of seasonal influenza vaccination among Slovenian physicians, 2016

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Sprejemljivost cepljenja proti sezonski gripi med Slovenskimi zdravniki, 2016

IntroductionVaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended for all healthcare workers including physicians in Slovenia to protect vulnerable individuals...

Acceptance of seasonal influenza vaccination among Slovenian physicians, 2016

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Jan 21, 2019

Page range: 47 - 53

Received: May 28, 2018

Accepted: Jan 07, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2019-0006

Keywords
influenza, vaccinations, physicians, Slovenia

© 2019 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Acceptance of seasonal influenza vaccination among Slovenian physicians, 2016

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Jan 21, 2019

Page range: 47 - 53

Received: May 28, 2018

Accepted: Jan 07, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2019-0006

Keywordsinfluenza, vaccinations, physicians, Slovenia

© 2019 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
influenza, vaccinations, physicians, Slovenia