Rachael Wendlandt1, B J Cowling2, Yuyun Chen2, Fiona Havers3, Pat Shifflett4, Ying Song5, Ran Zhang5, Danielle Iuliano3, Cuiling Xu6, Hongie Yu7, Jun Zhang8, Hongjun Zhang9, Fenyang Tang10, Mark Thompson3. 1. Abt Associates, Inc., 2200 Century Parkway NE, Suite 950, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: rachael_wendlandt@abtassoc.com. 2. Hong Kong University, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 3. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, USA. 4. Abt Associates, Inc., 2200 Century Parkway NE, Suite 950, Atlanta, GA, USA. 5. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Beijing, Suite 601, Dongwai Diplomatic Office, 23 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Beijing, PR China. 6. China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 155 Changbai Road, Changping District, Beijing, PR China. 7. National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing 102206, China. 8. Suzhou Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 72 San Xiang Road, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, PR China. 9. Yancheng Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 66 East Yu Long Road, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, PR China. 10. Jiangsu Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 172 Nan Jing Road, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, PR China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the association between socio-demographic and health characteristics of older adults in Eastern China and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about the influenza virus and vaccine. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 1506 older adults (aged ≥60 years) was enrolled from November to December 2015 in Jiangsu Province. We examined the association between demographics, health and functional status, and cognitive impairment at enrollment with awareness of influenza virus and vaccine and KAP items focused on five Health Belief Model domains. At a 12-month follow-up interview we assessed change in awareness and readiness to be vaccinated. RESULTS: One in five older adults was aware of the influenza virus (21%) or vaccine (20%); even fewer reported having at least "a little" knowledge of the virus and vaccine (7% and 4%, respectively); less than 1% reported ever receiving an influenza vaccine. Retirement, higher education and income, and normal cognitive status were consistently associated with both awareness and knowledge of influenza virus. The odds of having at least "a little" knowledge of the vaccine was 2.9-fold (95% CI = 1.6-5.3) higher among older adults with at least some secondary schooling. Among the 108 with knowledge of the virus, 55% said they "worry about getting the flu this season." Among the 73 with knowledge of the vaccine, 92% believed the vaccine was at least somewhat effective and less than half (43%) thought that influenza vaccination was safe. At a 12-month follow-up interview, 33% (442/1333) increased from no knowledge to at least "a little". CONCLUSIONS: If and when influenza vaccines become widely available to older adults in China, our results indicate that influenza vaccination campaigns with basic information on the virus and vaccine could be beneficial for all older adults, especially those with less education and/or more cognitive impairment.
BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the association between socio-demographic and health characteristics of older adults in Eastern China and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about the influenza virus and vaccine. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 1506 older adults (aged ≥60 years) was enrolled from November to December 2015 in Jiangsu Province. We examined the association between demographics, health and functional status, and cognitive impairment at enrollment with awareness of influenza virus and vaccine and KAP items focused on five Health Belief Model domains. At a 12-month follow-up interview we assessed change in awareness and readiness to be vaccinated. RESULTS: One in five older adults was aware of the influenza virus (21%) or vaccine (20%); even fewer reported having at least "a little" knowledge of the virus and vaccine (7% and 4%, respectively); less than 1% reported ever receiving an influenza vaccine. Retirement, higher education and income, and normal cognitive status were consistently associated with both awareness and knowledge of influenza virus. The odds of having at least "a little" knowledge of the vaccine was 2.9-fold (95% CI = 1.6-5.3) higher among older adults with at least some secondary schooling. Among the 108 with knowledge of the virus, 55% said they "worry about getting the flu this season." Among the 73 with knowledge of the vaccine, 92% believed the vaccine was at least somewhat effective and less than half (43%) thought that influenza vaccination was safe. At a 12-month follow-up interview, 33% (442/1333) increased from no knowledge to at least "a little". CONCLUSIONS: If and when influenza vaccines become widely available to older adults in China, our results indicate that influenza vaccination campaigns with basic information on the virus and vaccine could be beneficial for all older adults, especially those with less education and/or more cognitive impairment.
Authors: Zachary J Madewell; Rafael Chacón-Fuentes; Jorge Jara; Homer Mejía-Santos; Ida-Berenice Molina; Juan Pablo Alvis-Estrada; Raul Espinal Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-02-11 Impact factor: 3.240