Influenza knowledge and barriers to vaccination in immunosuppressed patients in the pediatric rheumatology clinic
Authors' conclusion
This survey indicates that respondents understand the potential severity of influenza and the increased risk of infection due to immunosuppressive medication use; however, many inaccurately identified the most common symptoms of influenza and also reported misconceptions of influenza vaccine risks.
Study context
- Population
- Pediatric rheumatology patients on immunosuppressive medication or their parent, July 2019–January 2020
- Participants
- 226 completed surveys
- Exposure
- Parents vs patients
- Parentsn = 145
- Patientsn = 81reference
- Outcome
- Provider vaccine recommendations, influenza knowledge and barriers to influenza vaccination
Methodological detailssurvey, quality improvement
- Survey
- Quality improvement
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Influenza vaccine reported as recommended
- 85%
- Reason for not vaccinating: worry about disease flare
- 25.6%
- Reason for not vaccinating: concern the vaccine will cause influenza
- 25.6%
- Reason for not vaccinating: lack of vaccine effectiveness
- 20.5%
- Answered gastrointestinal symptoms as most common influenza symptoms
- 23%
- Answered joint swelling as most common influenza symptom
- 10.2%
- Aware immunosuppressive medication increases infection risk
- 95.1%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Worry about disease flare
P = 0.024
Average weekly influenza vaccination rate · 2019-2020 flu season
- 2019-2020 flu season
- 85.5%
- Previous year
- 72.0%
Vaccination by parental education
- Parents with higher education status more likely to have their child receive the influenza vaccine than parents with less education
Original publication
Influenza knowledge and barriers to vaccination in immunosuppressed patients in the pediatric rheumatology clinic. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. Published 18 December 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →