Barqawi Hiba, Saddik Basema, Adra Saryia, Soudan Hebah, Mustafa Jumana, Nidal Abdulla, Abu-Gharbieh Eman
MPhil. Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine and Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.
PhD. Department of Family and Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine and Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.
Pharm Pract (Granada). 2021 Oct-Dec;19(4):2587. doi: 10.18549/PharmPract.2021.4.2587. Epub 2021 Dec 15.
Influenza, a yearly epidemic, can present with a wide array of symptoms ranging from mild rhinorrhoea and cough to life-threatening superadded bacterial infections. It affects the lives of around 12.5% of the world's population every year and accounts for almost half a billion deaths. With growing populations, these numbers will follow a similar growth resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Currently, the recommended method to prevent influenza is through the administration of a yearly vaccine that entails the suspected strains of the virus for the year and region.
This study aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the health care professionals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding Influenza vaccination.
A cross-sectional study, utilizing a self-administered questionnaire, was distributed amongst health care professionals in the four largest emirates in the UAE, via convenience sampling. 417 responses were completed and analysed using SPSS-24.
54.1% (n=225) of participants continue going to work while being sick despite 67.6% (n=282) reporting they are aware of the recommendations published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Multiple linear regression showed that age and profession were the only significant predictor of influenza vaccine knowledge. 54.2% (n=226) of the participants reported receiving the vaccine; of those, only 38.9% (n=88) receive it annually. One of the most commonly reported barriers to taking the vaccine was the uncertainty of its effectiveness. Those using a reminder system were 2.044 times more likely to take the vaccine regularly.
This study demonstrates that the attitudes and practices towards taking the influenza vaccine as recommended are suboptimal. Campaigns targeting health care professionals regarding the influenza vaccine and the CDC recommendations would perhaps positively skew the results in the future.
流感是一种年度流行病，症状表现广泛，从轻微的鼻漏和咳嗽到危及生命的继发细菌感染。它每年影响全球约12.5%的人口，导致近5亿人死亡。随着人口增长，这些数字将随之增长，导致发病率和死亡率上升。目前，预防流感的推荐方法是每年接种一次疫苗，该疫苗针对当年和当地可能流行的病毒株。
本研究旨在探讨阿拉伯联合酋长国（阿联酋）医护人员对流感疫苗接种的知识、态度和做法。
采用横断面研究，通过便利抽样，向阿联酋四个最大酋长国的医护人员发放自填式问卷。共完成417份问卷，并使用SPSS-24进行分析。
54.1%（n=225）的参与者在生病时仍继续工作，尽管67.6%（n=282）的人表示他们知晓美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）发布的建议。多元线性回归显示，年龄和职业是流感疫苗知识的唯一显著预测因素。54.2%（n=226）的参与者报告接种过疫苗；其中，只有38.9%（n=88）的人每年接种。最常报告的接种疫苗障碍之一是对其有效性的不确定性。使用提醒系统的人定期接种疫苗的可能性是其他人的2.044倍。
本研究表明，对按建议接种流感疫苗的态度和做法并不理想。针对医护人员开展关于流感疫苗和CDC建议的宣传活动，可能会在未来对结果产生积极影响。
