Knowledge,attitudes and practices of Australian medical students towards influenza vaccination |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia;2. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia;1. Gezondheidsraad/Health Council of the Netherlands, PO Box 16052, 2500 BB The Hague, The Netherlands;2. Agence de Médecine Préventive, 21 boulevard Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France;1. Université Paris Descartes, Paris Sorbonne Cité, France;2. INSERM, CIC BT505, France;3. Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Groupe Hospitalier Cochin Broca Hôtel Dieu, CIC de Vaccinologie Cochin-Pasteur, Paris, France;1. School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor 45700, Malaysia;2. Department of Pharmacy Services, Northwest General Hospital & Research Center, Peshawar, Pakistan;3. Department of Pharmacy, University of Swabi, Pakistan;1. College of Medicine & Dentistry, James Cook University, Mackay Campus, Australia;2. Anton Breinl Centre for Health System Strengthening, James Cook University, Townsville Campus, Australia;1. Univ. Lille, EA 4483 – IMPECS – IMPact de l’Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine, F-59000 Lille, France;2. CHU Lille, Service des Exploration Fonctionnelles Respiratoires, F-59000 Lille, France;3. CHU Lille, Service de Médecine du Travail du Personnel Hospitalier, F-59000 Lille, France;1. College of Pharmacy, Hail University, Hail, Saudi Arabia;2. Medication Safety Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;3. College of Pharmacy, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;4. Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Saudi Arabia;5. College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
BackgroundAnnual influenza vaccination is recommended but not compulsory for healthcare workers in Australia, including medical students. A quarter of healthcare workers are estimated to have an influenza infection in any given year, with a subsequent transmission risk to colleagues and patients. During clinical placements, medical students are also at risk of influenza. While compliance with other vaccination requirements are high, influenza vaccine uptake of healthcare workers and medical students remain low globally. We aimed to explore medical students’ influenza vaccination rates, attitudes, knowledge and intended practices at a large Australian university.MethodA 35 item self-administered online survey was distributed to medical students enrolled at a large Australian university (UNSW Australia) in April/May 2014. The survey examined the knowledge, attitudes and practices of medical students towards influenza vaccination and identified factors associated with vaccine uptake.ResultsOf the 606 students, 53.8% (95%CI 49.8–57.8%) receiving their most recent influenza vaccine in 2014. Self-protection was the most common motivator (83%) and inconvenience (64%) the most common barrier to vaccination, despite access to on campus clinics. Students generally held positive attitudes to the influenza vaccine and vaccination recommendations, though some misconceptions existed. The majority (61%) were in support of mandatory influenza vaccination policies for medical students. Significant predictors of influenza vaccination included living on campus, clinical experience, awareness of vaccination recommendations and agreeing that vaccination was important for medical students, while those with perceived time constraints were less likely to be vaccinated.ConclusionMisconceptions and access to influenza vaccine were barriers to uptake of influenza vaccine by medical students. Medical programs need to emphasise the benefits of influenza vaccination in the protection of healthcare workers and patient safety across the medical education program. Our results suggesting majority support for mandatory influenza vaccination may represent a shifting perspective in the medical community. |
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| Keywords: | Medical students Influenza vaccination Attitudes Knowledge Vaccine uptake Australia |
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