Knowledge of Physicians About Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination

The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of physicians on influenza and pneumococcal vaccine.

A questionnaire was administered to physicians working in Kyrenia University Hospital and Near East University School of Medicine.

There were 38 female (56.7%) and 29 male (43.3%) participants. The mean age was 39.3±12.5 years. There were 24 general practitioners (GP) and 43 specialists participating in the study. Influenza vaccine and its risk minimization for infection were well known among 92.5% of the participants. However, 76.1% of them mentioned that they had knowledge about the pneumococcal vaccine, and this ratio about its reducing the risk of infection was 73.1%. 83.7% of specialists and 79.2% of GP thought that adult vaccines were effective (p=0.6). The rate of influenza vaccination among specialists was higher than that of GP (67.4% vs. 41.7%, p=0.04). However, the rates of pneumococcal vaccination were low and similar in both groups (p=0.3). In both specialists and GP, the most common reason for not receiving the vaccine was the belief of not being in the risk group (p=0.9). The knowledge level of pneumococcal vaccination in GP was found to be statistically lower than in specialists (p<0.05).

Although influenza vaccine and its risk minimization for infection are well known among physicians, the pneumococcal vaccine is not well known. It is suggested that training about vaccination for both specialists and GP are important for preventive medicine.