Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of General Practitioners from the Province of Parma (Northern Italy) towards vaccinations in adults ≥ 65 year-old

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of General Practitioners from the Province of Parma (Northern Italy) towards vaccinations in adults ≥ 65 year-old

Authors

  • Luigi Vezzosi Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale di Cremona – Direzione Medica Ospedale di Cremona, Viale Concordia 1, 26100 Cremona
  • Matteo Riccò Azienda USL di Reggio EmiliaV.le Amendola n.2 - 42122 REServizio di Prevenzione e Sicurezza negli Ambienti di Lavoro (SPSAL)Dip. di Prevenzione http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6525-2159
  • Erminia Agozzino Department of Experimental Medicine, Campania University L. Vanvitelli, Section of Hygiene Via L. Armanni 5, 80138 Naples, Italy;
  • Anna Odone School of Hygiene and Public Health, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy
  • Carlo Signorelli School of Hygiene and Public Health, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy

Keywords:

Healthcare workers, Immunization, Elderly infections, General Practitioner, Vaccination recommendation, Vaccine hesitancy

Abstract

Backgrounds and aims: This study aims to characterize attitudes and knowledge towards immunization practice of people aged >65 years for seasonal influenza (SIV), pneumococcus (PNV), and Herpes zoster (ZV) in a sample of Italian general practitioners (GPs). Materials and Methods: During 10/2018, a structured questionnaire was emailed to 274 GPs operating in the Province of Parma, Italy. Association between willingness to perform aforementioned vaccines and individual factors was assessed through a multivariate regression analysis by calculating multivariate Odds Ratio (mOR). Results: A total of 73 GPs (26.6% of original sample) completed the questionnaire. Knowledge gaps were identified on the targeted vaccination rates for PNV and ZV (31.6% and 21.9% of correct answers), on the formulation of VZ (41.1%), and on the simultaneous immunization SIV/ZV (12.3%). The majority of respondents had high/very high trust on safety and efficacy of assessed vaccines. In multivariate analysis, recommending PNV was associated with having previously received SIV (mOR 5.44, 95%CI 1.08-27.31). In turn, ZV was negatively associated with a self-assessed knowledge gap (mOR 0.07, 95%CI 0.01-0.63). Discussion: Despite a generally favorable attitude towards vaccines, GPs exhibited knowledge gaps deserving appropriate intervention. However, lack of association between knowledge status and willingness to vaccinate enlighten the complex interplay between attitudes and personal behaviors.

Author Biography

Matteo Riccò, Azienda USL di Reggio EmiliaV.le Amendola n.2 - 42122 REServizio di Prevenzione e Sicurezza negli Ambienti di Lavoro (SPSAL)Dip. di Prevenzione

Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica

Dirigente Medico di Medicina del Lavoro

Downloads

Published

13-09-2019

How to Cite

1.
Vezzosi L, Riccò M, Agozzino E, Odone A, Signorelli C. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of General Practitioners from the Province of Parma (Northern Italy) towards vaccinations in adults ≥ 65 year-old. Acta Biomed [Internet]. 2019 Sep. 13 [cited 2024 Oct. 10];90(9-S):71-5. Available from: https://www.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/8704