Physician Knowledge and Perspectives Regarding Influenza and Influenza Vaccination

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Factors Impacting Influenza Vaccination of Urban Low-Income Latino Children Under Nine Years Requiring Two Doses in the 2010–2011 Season

“…It is unclear whether the caregiver incorrectly recalled this timing or whether the provider indicated that the dose should be given at an interval other than the recommended one-month. In support of the latter, one previous study found that 15% of providers were unaware of the appropriate interval between doses (19). …”

“…Alerts in the EHR may be another useful strategy for identifying eligible recipients and prompting providers to discuss and offer influenza vaccine (32), thereby reducing missed vaccination opportunities (33). The use of clinician decision support in the EHR may be particularly valuable for children requiring two doses since one study found that approximately 40% of providers were unclear which children should receive the two-dose regimen (19). It may be especially useful for older children who need two doses, yet are less likely to receive them (2, 4, 6) or during seasons with changing recommendations, although it’s important to note that influenza vaccination here did not differ based upon child age nor the reason for two-dose eligibility (i.e., prior seasonal vs. H1N1 vaccine receipt).…”

Assessing the Ability of an Immunization Information System to Prevent Overimmunization of Pediatric Influenza Vaccines

“…17 Our study showed that children are frequently receiving their influenza vaccines at multiple provider sites and varying locations. 19,20 The increasingly complex influenza immunization schedule for children can present challenges to providers. These benefits will increase commensurate with IIS support of real-time and batch upload of data from electronic health records, which are increasingly used by providers.…”

Adolescent Vaccination: Physician Challenges and Solutions

“…For example, pediatricians were about four times more likely than other physicians, and VFC providers were more than twice as likely, to achieve an above-average score [11]. A separate survey of Chicago pediatricians and family physicians during the 2002-2003 influenza season found that about 50% of physicians were not aware that the influenza-related hospitalization rate in children younger than 24 months of age was greater than adults older than 50 years, and most (92%) could not correctly identify complications of influenza in children [12]. Similarly, more than 90% were unable to correctly identify the contraindications to influenza vaccination [12].…”

“…A separate survey of Chicago pediatricians and family physicians during the 2002-2003 influenza season found that about 50% of physicians were not aware that the influenza-related hospitalization rate in children younger than 24 months of age was greater than adults older than 50 years, and most (92%) could not correctly identify complications of influenza in children [12]. Similarly, more than 90% were unable to correctly identify the contraindications to influenza vaccination [12]. Taken together, these surveys suggest that clinicians' perceptions of their knowledge about immunizations do not correlate with assessments of that knowledge.…”