Provider knowledge of trivalent inactivated and high-dose influenza vaccines

Vaccine. 2014 Oct 21;32(46):6025-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.08.081. Epub 2014 Sep 22.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess provider knowledge about trivalent inactivated and high dose influenza vaccines. Hence, a 20-item survey was distributed to providers within the Internal Medicine department at an urban academic medical center.

Results: Two hundred and eighty-one (24.5%) providers responded. The correct response rate was 63.2%. The highest performing subspecialties were infectious diseases (80.5%), endocrinology (69.2%), and pulmonary (68%). Those who received an influenza vaccine during the most recent season scored significantly higher than those who did not (63.6% vs. 43.6%, p=.001). Areas where respondents did poorly included questions pertaining to contraindications to immunizations (27.4%), common adverse events after immunization (29.2%), target antigen (73.5%), number of strains in the trivalent inactivated vaccine (62.9%), and time to immunity (61.4%). High dose vaccine knowledge was poor, with 37% of providers unaware of its existence.

Conclusion: Significant gaps in provider knowledge exist regarding both trivalent inactivated and high dose influenza vaccines.

Keywords: High dose influenza vaccine; Influenza vaccine knowledge.

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers
  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Influenza Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Physicians / statistics & numerical data*
  • Professional Competence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Vaccination / statistics & numerical data
  • Vaccines, Inactivated / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Inactivated / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Inactivated