Knowledge, attitude and behavior of physicians working in a Family health center in Samsun Province about adult vaccination

Objective: Immunization practices emphasize the importance of high vaccination rates in order to obtain the expected benefits from vaccines. The recommendations of family physicians, who are primary physicians for preventive and therapeutic adult health, play an important role in patients' attitudes and behaviors regarding vaccination. This study aims to contribute to increasing adult vaccination rates by examining the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of family physicians working in family health centers in Samsun province regarding adult vaccination. Materials and Methods: Our cross-sectional study was conducted in all family health centers in Samsun between 15.06.2024 and 01.09.2024. Data were collected by face-to-face survey method using a questionnaire form consisting of questions about vaccines by reviewing socio-demographic data and literature. SPSS (Statistical Package for The Social Science) 26.0 package program was used for data analysis in the study. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Chi-Square Test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis-H, Games-Howell test were used in the statistical analysis of the data. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Findings: The average age of the 199 family physicians participating in the study was 46.39±8.468 years and 64.3% were male. 88.4% were married, 31.7% had chronic diseases. The physicians' working period in the profession was 20.70±8.95 years and the working period in family medicine was 11.78±5.89 years. Among the adult vaccines that physicians know the most, 94% Hepatitis A, 89.4% Hepatitis B, 87.9% Diphtheria-tetanus, 83.4% Influenza, 72.9% COVID-19 stand out, while 29.6% KKK, 29.1% Shingles, and 19.1% Chickenpox vaccines are less known. While 90% of the participants used sources, 84.42% Ministry of Health (asi.gov.tr), 24.1% EKMUD guide, and 5.03% CDC guides were cited as sources. Half of the physicians sometimes recommend and question vaccines to patients. The score of the information attitude about vaccines is seen as high as 4.72±0.57 (the highest score is 5). One third of the participants have received in-service training and prefer in-service training and scientific meetings to access up-to-date information. Hepatitis A vaccine is the least known reimbursable vaccine. The study found that physicians did not fully administer the recommended vaccines, and the influenza vaccination rate, especially in the 2023-2024 season, was 40%. 97% of the participants had been vaccinated as adults, and 86.4% had received the Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine, 85.4% the COVID-19 vaccine, 59.3% the influenza vaccine, and 57.3% the hepatitis B vaccine. The rate of recommending vaccinations to risk groups was generally low, with Hepatitis B being recommended to 73.4% renal failure dialysis patients, Pneumococcus being recommended to 86.9% patients with diseases affecting the immune system, 79.9% patients with diabetes, and Influenza being recommended to 76.9% patients with diseases affecting the immune system, and 76.4% patients with diabetes. As the level of knowledge about adult vaccination increases, physicians' vaccination recommendation and information behaviors also increase (p=0.048). In addition, physicians who received in-service training had higher knowledge levels (p=0.032). Result: The average score of the participants on "adult vaccine knowledge level" was calculated as 7.02±2.86, which was found to be slightly above the average knowledge level (the highest score was 12). The participants' knowledge attitude score on vaccines was calculated as 4.72±0.57 (the highest score was 5). Increasing the knowledge and awareness of family physicians on adult vaccination through in-service training and scientific meetings will also increase vaccination recommendations. Information, public service announcements, reminder systems and knowledge of vaccine records for patients will also increase patients' awareness of adult vaccination. Vaccination for healthcare professionals should also be completed in accordance with the guidelines. Integrating adult vaccination guidelines into warning systems in a way that physicians can use most easily will increase awareness.