4 research outputs found
Mobile learning devices in the workplace: ‘as much a part of the junior doctors’ kit as a stethoscope’?
A(H1N1) pandemic influenza and its prevention by vaccination : Paediatricians’ opinions before and after the beginning of the vaccination campaign
Background: In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared an A(H1N1) influenza pandemic. In October
2009, the largest vaccination campaign in Canadian history began. The aim of this study was to document
paediatricians’ knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding A(H1N1) pandemic influenza and its prevention
by vaccination just after the beginning of the A(H1N1) vaccination campaign and to compare the results with
those obtained before campaign initiation.
Methods: A self-administered mail-based questionnaire was sent to all Canadian paediatricians. Questionnaires
were analyzed in two subsets: those received before and after the beginning of the vaccination campaign.
Results: Overall the response rate was 50%. Respondents’ characteristics were comparable between the two subsets.
Before the beginning of the campaign, 63% of paediatricians perceived A(H1N1) pandemic infection as a serious
disease, that would occur frequently without vaccination compared to more than 75% after. Before the vaccination
campaign, half of respondents or less thought that the A(H1N1) vaccine was safe (50%) and effective (35%) compared
to 77% and 72% after. The proportion of paediatricians who reported they had received sufficient information on A
(H1N1) vaccine increased from 31% before to 73% after the beginning of the vaccination campaign. The majority of
respondents intended to get vaccinated against A(H1N1) influenza themselves (84% before and 92% after).
Respondents’ intention to recommend the A(H1N1) vaccine to their patients increased from 80% before the beginning
of the campaign to 92% after. In multivariate analysis, the main determinants of paediatricians’ intention to recommend
the A(H1N1) vaccine were their intention to get vaccinated against A(H1N1) influenza themselves and a belief that A
(H1N1) vaccine would be well accepted by health professionals who administer vaccines to the public.
Conclusion: Results of this study show important increases in physicians’ level of confidence about A(H1N1)
vaccine’s safety and immunogenicity and their willingness to recommend this vaccine to their patients. These
changes could be explained, at least partially, by the important effort done by public health authorities to
disseminate information regarding A(H1N1) vaccination.Medicine, Faculty ofPediatrics, Department ofNon UBCReviewedFacult