Awareness of vaccination of geriartric patients amongphysicians working i̇n eastern black sea region

Introduction and Aim:In individuals aged 65 and over, what is called "fragility" is a state of extreme vulnerability to all kinds of stress factors, especially infections. It is necessary to take precautions for this special period. Vaccination awareness and vaccination program is recommended for everyone aged 65 and over, with or without a co-morbid disease. Despite this, it is observed that vaccination rates in the geriatric age group do not reach the desired levels. The aim of our study is to determine the awareness of vaccination of geriatric (65 years and over) patients, to reveal the parameters affecting the awareness of vaccination among physicians working in the Eastern Black Sea Region and to identify the interventions needed to raise awareness. Materials and Methods:In our study, opinions were received from physicians whom working at primary, secondary and tertiary health institution (family physicians and adult patient caregivers in internal units; specialists, lecturers, physicians and assistant physicians) in the Eastern Black Sea Region. Face-to-face meetings may pose risks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, online survey tool was carried out using the google form survey. A total of 420 (four hundred and twenty) physicians filled out the questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the individuals participating in the study was determined as 31.3±5.1 .51.9% of the participants were male and 48.1% were female. Of the participants, 21.9% were general practitioners , 44.3% were assistant physicians, 26.2% were specialists, and 7.6% are lecturers. 29.0% of the participants were between 0 and 3 years, 19.5% between 4 and 5 years, 31.4% between 6 and 9 years, and 20.0% stated that they have worked for 10 or more years. The steps of the units they work; 35.5% are at the first level, 43.6% are at the second level, and 75.0% are at the third level. All of the participants evaluated the vaccine administration as "everyone should be applied" in the geriatric population. Physicians who have never worked in secondary health institution; it was observed that they made vaccination inquiries significantly more (p=0.046), and also it was determined that they examined the vaccine guide more (p=0,024). physicians aged 30 XI and over compared to physicians under the age of 30; in the first group; vaccine inquiries were found to be significantly more common in the geriatric population (p=0.016), first group participants were more found to be involved in the training and reviewing the guide of Turkish Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist Association (EKMUD) (p=<0.001), and they attach more importance to the vaccination of the geriatric population in daily practice (p<0.001). 95.2% of the participants recommended COVID 19 vaccine, 79.8% recommended pneumococcal vaccine, 77.4% recommended influenza vaccine, 42.1% recommended tetanus vaccine, 37.6% recommended hepatitis-B vaccine, 6.4% recommended herpeszoster vaccine. 3.6% of the participants did not recommend any vaccine. When the groups were compared according to their status of being married and single, it was found that the married group has more vaccine inquiry (p=0,011), and more training on the EKMUD guide(p=0,011). There is a statistically significant difference between active working years and requesting the introduction of a practical reminder system. (p=0,038). Compared to years of employment in terms of requesting the introduction of a practical reminder system; 92.6% of those with 0-3 working years , 84.1% of those with 4-5 working years, 94.7% of those with 6-9 working years, and 86.9% of those with ≥10 working years wanted to introduce a practical reminder system. In daily practice, the percentage of giving importance to the vaccination of the geriatric population is increasing from physian to teaching staff and as active working years go from 0-3 to 10 and above. Conclusion: Physicians play a major role in adult vaccination in Turkey. As seen in this study, vaccination recommendations for geriatric patients of physicians in the Eastern Black Sea Region were lower than expected. It is thought that information and reminder systems on this subject will increase the rate of vaccination and reduce the incidence of diseases. Keywords: Vaccine, Covid 19, EKMUD, Awareness, Geriatric Patient