Sophie Massin1, Bruno Ventelou2, Antoine Nebout3, Pierre Verger4, Céline Pulcini5. 1. Aix Marseille Université (Aix Marseille School of Economics-SESSTIM UMR 912, Inserm IRD), Marseille, France; Université d'Artois, LEM, UMR 8179, Arras, France. 2. Aix Marseille Université (Aix Marseille School of Economics-SESSTIM UMR 912, Inserm IRD), Marseille, France; ORS PACA, Observatoire Régional de la Santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France; CNRS, U6579 (greqam) , Marseille, France. 3. Aix Marseille Université (Aix Marseille School of Economics-SESSTIM UMR 912, Inserm IRD), Marseille, France; INRA, UR 1303 ALISS, Ivry-sur-Seine, France. 4. Aix Marseille Université (Aix Marseille School of Economics-SESSTIM UMR 912, Inserm IRD), Marseille, France; ORS PACA, Observatoire Régional de la Santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France. 5. Aix Marseille Université (Aix Marseille School of Economics-SESSTIM UMR 912, Inserm IRD), Marseille, France; CHU de Nancy, Service de Maladies Infectieuses, Nancy, France; Université de Lorraine, Université Paris Descartes, EA 4360 Apemac, Nancy, France. Electronic address: celine.pulcini@univ-lorraine.fr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We tested the following hypotheses: (i) risk-averse general practitioners (GPs) are more likely to be vaccinated against influenza; (ii) and risk-averse GPs recommend influenza vaccination more often to their patients. In risk-averse GPs, the perceived benefits of the vaccine and/or the perceived risks of the infectious disease might indeed outweigh the perceived risks of the vaccine. PATIENTS/ METHODS: In 2010-2012, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a nationwide French representative sample of 1136 GPs. Multivariate analyses adjusted for four stratification variables (age, gender, urban/suburban/rural practice location and annual patient consultations) and for GPs' characteristics (group/solo practice, and occasional practice of alternative medicine, e.g., homeopathy) looked for associations between their risk attitudes and self-reported vaccination behavior. Individual risk attitudes were expressed as a continuous variable, from 0 (risk-tolerant) to 10 (risk-averse). RESULTS: Overall, 69% of GPs reported that they were very favorable toward vaccination in general. Self-reported vaccination coverage was 78% for 2009/2010 seasonal influenza and 62% for A/H1N1 pandemic influenza. Most GPs (72%) reported recommending the pandemic influenza vaccination to at-risk young adults in 2009, but few than half (42%) to young adults not at risk. In multivariate analyses, risk-averse GPs were more often vaccinated against seasonal (marginal effect=1.3%, P=0.02) and pandemic influenza (marginal effect=1.5%, P=0.02). Risk-averse GPs recommended the pandemic influenza vaccination more often than their more risk-tolerant colleagues to patients without risk factors (marginal effect=1.7%, P=0.01), but not to their at-risk patients and were more favorable toward vaccination in general (marginal effect=1.5%, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Individual risk attitudes may influence GPs' practices regarding influenza vaccination, both for themselves and their patients. Our results suggest that risk-averse GPs may perceive the risks of influenza to outweigh the potential risks related to the vaccine.
OBJECTIVES: We tested the following hypotheses: (i) risk-averse general practitioners (GPs) are more likely to be vaccinated against influenza; (ii) and risk-averse GPs recommend influenza vaccination more often to their patients. In risk-averse GPs, the perceived benefits of the vaccine and/or the perceived risks of the infectious disease might indeed outweigh the perceived risks of the vaccine. PATIENTS/ METHODS: In 2010-2012, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a nationwide French representative sample of 1136 GPs. Multivariate analyses adjusted for four stratification variables (age, gender, urban/suburban/rural practice location and annual patient consultations) and for GPs' characteristics (group/solo practice, and occasional practice of alternative medicine, e.g., homeopathy) looked for associations between their risk attitudes and self-reported vaccination behavior. Individual risk attitudes were expressed as a continuous variable, from 0 (risk-tolerant) to 10 (risk-averse). RESULTS: Overall, 69% of GPs reported that they were very favorable toward vaccination in general. Self-reported vaccination coverage was 78% for 2009/2010 seasonal influenza and 62% for A/H1N1 pandemic influenza. Most GPs (72%) reported recommending the pandemic influenza vaccination to at-risk young adults in 2009, but few than half (42%) to young adults not at risk. In multivariate analyses, risk-averse GPs were more often vaccinated against seasonal (marginal effect=1.3%, P=0.02) and pandemic influenza (marginal effect=1.5%, P=0.02). Risk-averse GPs recommended the pandemic influenza vaccination more often than their more risk-tolerant colleagues to patients without risk factors (marginal effect=1.7%, P=0.01), but not to their at-risk patients and were more favorable toward vaccination in general (marginal effect=1.5%, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Individual risk attitudes may influence GPs' practices regarding influenza vaccination, both for themselves and their patients. Our results suggest that risk-averse GPs may perceive the risks of influenza to outweigh the potential risks related to the vaccine.
Authors: Miriam Levi; Paolo Bonanni; Marco Biffino; Michele Conversano; Maria Corongiu; Paolo Morato; Tommasa Maio Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2018-03-30 Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: Eman Y Abu-Rish; Eman R Elayeh; Lubabah A Mousa; Yasser K Butanji; Abla M Albsoul-Younes Journal: Fam Pract Date: 2016-08-27 Impact factor: 2.267