Determinants of Influenza Vaccination: The Physician's Prejudice?

Following a computer-generated, randomized, chart review at the Sunnybrook Medical Centre Family Practice Unit, an attempt was made to delineate the factors that would determine the likelihood of influenza vaccination in the elderly population during 1985 and/or 1986. Although current recommendations call for vaccination of all patients over the age of 65, particularly those with chronic underlying disease, only the presence of chronic obstructive lung disease (p = 0.003) and the total number of visits (p = 0.0001) were found to be significant among 15 variables examined in 451 patients. A subsequent questionnaire relating to vaccination was distributed to the participating family practitioners to determine the degree to which physicians' ideas about indications for influenza vaccination concur with the actual determinants of patients being immunized in their practices. The overall Sunnybrook vaccination rate was compatible with that obtained in national surveys, indicating that compliance rates are remarkably low (20%).