ABSTRACT

Aim:

Despite its proven efficacy, the rate of antipneumococcal vaccination remains considerably low. Determination of factors affecting vaccination behavior may contribute to efforts aimed at boosting vaccination rates. We therefore aimed to investigate the anti-pneumococcal vaccination rates and potential factors affecting vaccination behavior among patients presenting to chest disease department.

Material and Method:

A written questionnaire was applied to all patients who presented to Chest Diseases Department between October 2011 and January 2012.

Results:

A total of 1251 patients (671 women, 580 men) were enrolled. Among 766 participants who had any indication for anti-pneumococcal vaccination, 9.9% stated that they hed been vaccinated. The rate of vaccination increased with increasing age (OR, 2.71; CI, 1.09-5.22; p<0.001). Patients aged 65 years or older, those with chronic lung, heart disease or diabetes had a higher rate of vaccination (OR, 5.16; CI, 2.43-7.31, p<0.001; OR,4.14;CI, 1.78-6.47; p<0.001, OR,2.21;CI,1.14-4.25, p=0.003 and OR, 2.46; CI, 1.79-4.68, p=0.003, respectively). The vaccinated patients had significantly higher rates of considering that the vaccine is beneficial (OR, 3.75; CI, 2.61-6.34, p<0.001), and workforce loss (OR, 2.27; CI, 1.38-4.52, p<0.001). Those who were not vaccinated, on the other hand, were of the opinion that there is no need to be vaccinated (OR, 3.30; CI, 1.05-5.15, p<0.001) or stated that they had no information as the necessity of the vaccination (OR, 3.61; CI, 1.23-5.3, p<0.001). The vaccinated ones had most commonly acquired the information about the vaccine from their physicians (OR, 6.47; CI, 3.27-10.32, p<0.001). A multivariate analysis revealed being informed by physician (OR, 4.32; CI, 2.15-7.24, p<0.001), being 65 years or older (OR, 3.27; CI, 2.25-5.11, p<0.001), and having a chronic lung disease (OR, 2.16; CI, 1.16-5.32, p=0.01) as the independent predictors of vaccination behavior.

Conclusion:

The vaccination rate is low among at-risk persons for pneumococcal infections. The vaccination rates increase in advanced age, chronic lung or heart disease, or diabetes. The vaccinated patients had more accurate and positive opinion about the vaccine whereas the unvaccinated ones had inadequate knowledge about the vaccine rather than a negative attitude towards it. As physicians represent the most important source of information about the vaccine, accurate information about and recommendation of vaccination by physicians may increase vaccination rates.