Shu Yan Li1, Pei Wei Li1, Bo Shen2, Min Zhi3, Yu Bei Gu4, Xin Ying Wang5, Hong Guo6, Yue Li7, Yi Hong Fan8, Bo Lin Yang9, Meng Xue1, Xiao Ying Wang1, Min Fang Lv1, Yan Li1, Bin Ye10, Xin Jian Zhu11, Yan Chen1. 1. Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. 2. Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. 3. Department of Gastroenterology, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. 4. Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 5. Department of Gastroenterology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. 6. Department of Gastroenterology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China. 7. Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China. 8. Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. 9. Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. 10. Department of Gastroenterology, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui, Zhejiang Province, China. 11. Department of Gastroenterology, Shaoxing Shangyu People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been increasing worldwide, and the risk of infection has increased due to the use of immunosuppressive and biologic medications. Some of these infections can be prevented with vaccinations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vaccination practices of Chinese gastroenterologists for patients with IBD. METHODS: Questionnaires based on quick response codes were sent using email and the WeChat platform to gastroenterologists at 20 hospitals in China. The vaccination practices of the gastroenterologists, including vaccinating for hepatitis B, hepatitis A, and varicella, were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 468 gastroenterologists who received the questionnaire, 307 (65.6%) completed it. Of the gastroenterologists who were most concerned about hepatitis B; 83.4% always or frequently asked about an infection history, 53.7% took an immunization history, and 73.6% tested patients for hepatitis B infection. However, few gastroenterologists did so for hepatitis A or varicella. The proportion of patients who were asked about an infection and immunization history and tested for varicella infection was 16.0%, 15.0%, and 9.4%, respectively. Only a few gastroenterologists recommended vaccination for patients without an infection before IBD medical treatment (26.7% for hepatitis A, 45.6% for hepatitis B, and 28% for varicella vaccination). CONCLUSION: Vaccination practices for patients with IBD used by Chinese gastroenterologists vary greatly, suggesting that education about immunization is needed.
OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been increasing worldwide, and the risk of infection has increased due to the use of immunosuppressive and biologic medications. Some of these infections can be prevented with vaccinations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vaccination practices of Chinese gastroenterologists for patients with IBD. METHODS: Questionnaires based on quick response codes were sent using email and the WeChat platform to gastroenterologists at 20 hospitals in China. The vaccination practices of the gastroenterologists, including vaccinating for hepatitis B, hepatitis A, and varicella, were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 468 gastroenterologists who received the questionnaire, 307 (65.6%) completed it. Of the gastroenterologists who were most concerned about hepatitis B; 83.4% always or frequently asked about an infection history, 53.7% took an immunization history, and 73.6% tested patients for hepatitis B infection. However, few gastroenterologists did so for hepatitis A or varicella. The proportion of patients who were asked about an infection and immunization history and tested for varicella infection was 16.0%, 15.0%, and 9.4%, respectively. Only a few gastroenterologists recommended vaccination for patients without an infection before IBD medical treatment (26.7% for hepatitis A, 45.6% for hepatitis B, and 28% for varicella vaccination). CONCLUSION: Vaccination practices for patients with IBD used by Chinese gastroenterologists vary greatly, suggesting that education about immunization is needed.