Knowledge Levels and Attitudes of Pediatric Physicians Regarding Meningococcal Infections and Vaccines: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) clinically manifests as meningitis, meningococcemia, or a combination of both. Globally, approximately 1.2 million meningococcal cases are reported annually, resulting in 135,000 deaths. Despite meningococcal infections being a significant public health concern, widespread vaccination is not commonly practiced. The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge levels and attitudes of pediatric specialists and assistant doctors regarding meningococcal infections and associated vaccines. Material and Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study included pediatric specialists and assistant doctors working in Antalya. During the study period, 170 pediatricians were identified, and it was aimed to reach at least 80% of this population. A total of 150 participants, selected via snowball sampling, participated in the survey. Data collection was carried out through face-to-face interviews and online questionnaires. Results: Of the participants, 72.7% were pediatric specialists and 27.3% were assistant doctors. The conjugate meningococcal vaccine was recommended by 68% of the participants for all patients, by 20% for high-risk patients only, while 12% did not recommend the vaccine. The primary reasons for this hesitancy included the cost of the vaccine, concerns about adverse effects, perceptions of low vaccine efficacy, and the rarity of the disease. Additionally, 47.4% of the participants suggested that the conjugate meningococcal vaccine should be included in the national immunization schedule, followed by 39.3% who recommended the rotavirus vaccine and 13.3% who recommended the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Conclusion: Our study found that pediatric specialists and assistant doctors had sufficient knowledge and generally positive attitudes towards Neisseria meningitidis infections and vaccines. However, the most significant barriers to vaccine administration were identified as cost, concerns about adverse effects, and the perception of low vaccine efficacy. It is anticipated that improving the knowledge and awareness of pediatricians will positively influence vaccine acceptance.

Keywords

• meningococcal vaccine
• pediatricians
• vaccine hesitancy
• attitudes

Supporting Institution

None.

Ethical Statement

Approval for the study was obtained from the Antalya Education and Research Hospital Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (date: 29/09/2022, decision no: 18/21). Written consent was obtained from the participants and the study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Thanks

None.

Pediatri Hekimlerinin Meningokok Enfeksiyonları ve Aşılarına İlişkin Bilgi Düzeyleri ve Tutumları: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Abstract

İnvaziv meningokok hastalığı (İMH), klinik olarak menenjit, meningokoksemi ya da her iki tablonun birlikte görüldüğü formlarla seyretmektedir. Dünya genelinde yılda yaklaşık 1,2 milyon meningokok vakası görülmekte ve bunlardan 135 bini hayatını kaybetmektedir. Meningokok enfeksiyonları önemli halk sağlığı sorunu olmasına rağmen aşılama konusunda yaygın uygulama yoktur. Bu çalışmanın amacı, meningokok enfeksiyonları ve ilgili aşılar konusunda pediatri uzmanları ile pediatri asistanlarının bilgi düzeyleri ve tutumlarını değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler Bu tanımlayıcı kesitsel çalışmaya, Antalya ilinde görev yapan pediatri uzmanları ve pediatri asistanları katılmıştır. Çalışma dönemi boyunca, toplam 170 hekimin bulunduğu belirlenmiş ve evrenin en az %80'ine ulaşılması hedeflenmiştir. Kartopu örnekleme yöntemiyle belirlenen katılımcılardan 150'si ankete katılmıştır. Veri toplama süreci, yüz yüze görüşmeler ve çevrimiçi anketler aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular Katılımcıların %72,7'sini pediatri uzmanları, %27,3'ünü ise pediatri asistanları oluşturmaktaydı. Konjuge meningokok aşısının katılımcıların %68'i tarafından tüm hastalara, %20'si tarafından yalnızca riskli hastalara önerildiği, %12'si tarafından ise önerilmediği belirtilmiştir. Hekimlerin bu isteksizliğinin en önemli nedenleri arasında aşının maliyeti, istenmeyen etkileri, etkinliğinin yetersiz olduğu algısı ve hastalığın nadir görülmesi yer almaktadır. Katılımcıların %47,4'ü ulusal aşı şemasına eklenmesi gereken rutin dışı aşılar arasında konjuge meningokok aşısını, %39,3'ü rotavirüs aşısını ve %13,3'ü human papilloma virüs (HPV) aşısını önermiştir. Sonuç Çalışmamızda, pediatri uzmanları ve asistanlarının Neisseria meningitidis enfeksiyonları ve aşıları konusunda yeterli bilgiye sahip oldukları ve genel olarak olumlu bir tutum sergiledikleri tespit edilmiştir. Ancak, aşı uygulamasındaki en önemli engellerin maliyet, istenmeyen etkiler ve aşının düşük etkinlik algısı olduğu belirlenmiştir. Pediatristlerin bilgi ve farkındalıklarının artırılmasının, aşı kabulünü olumlu yönde etkileyeceği öngörülmektedir.

Keywords

• Meningokok aşısı
• pediatri hekimi
• tutum
• aşı tereddütü

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