THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF PHYSICIANS ABOUT IMMUNISATION IN ADULTHOOD

Introduction and Objective: Immunisation in adulthood is reported to be underused although its safety, high efficiency and cost-effectiveness have been proved in the latest researches. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and attitude of specialists and residents, currently have been working in Training and Research Hospitals in Ankara from four different specialties; Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Diseases. Method: 234 participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. The information obtained included demographic data, status of self vaccination and 15 true/false questions based upon ACIP guide and Turkish National Adult Vaccination Schedule to evaluate the level of knowledge. Results and Conclusions: 123 of participants were residents and 111 were specialists. The average score of the pariticipants was 8,4. The median of the score which was used to assess the level of knowledge was 8. Since %53,4 of the pariticipants scored below the median, the level of knowledge was considered insufficient. The level of knowledge was higher in those who received information after graduation from faculty of medicine, considered the education to be sufficient, recommended vaccination to the patients more frequently and got vaccinated with tetanus within the last ten years. Yet, the level of knowledge of physicians of infectious diseases was higher compared to other specialties in total scoring. Most frequently recommended vaccines were influenza, pneumococcal and hepatitis B vaccines. We concluded that to increase the rate of adult vaccination coverage, more education programmes regarding adult vaccination have to be provided to physicians even after the graduation from faculty of medicine.