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Physicians who do and do not recommend children get all vaccinations
Deborah Gust1, Deanne Weber, Eric Weintraub
1Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. dgg6@cdc.gov
Journal of Health Communication
|August 30, 2008
Summary
Eleven percent of physicians do not recommend all childhood vaccines. This is linked to being a family practitioner and having concerns about vaccine safety.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Immunization
Background:
- Physician recommendations significantly influence parental decisions regarding childhood vaccinations.
- Understanding factors associated with vaccine hesitancy among healthcare providers is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of physicians who recommend all available childhood vaccines.
- To identify physician characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors linked to not recommending all vaccines.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional electronic survey was administered to pediatricians and family practitioners in 2005.
- Data from 1,251 physicians seeing at least five pediatric patients weekly were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Eleven percent of surveyed physicians did not recommend all childhood vaccines.
- Not recommending all vaccines was associated with being a family practitioner (vs. pediatrician), expressing concerns about immunization safety, and practicing in smaller group settings.
Conclusions:
- Physician characteristics and safety concerns are associated with incomplete vaccine recommendations.
- Further research into physician vaccine safety concerns is necessary to enhance provider-directed health communication strategies.
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