Evaluation of Factors Affecting Adult Immunization

Özet

Introduction: Vaccination is the most effective application in preventing from infections. In recent years, vaccination is still inadequate in adults despite the fact that there is a great deal of effort in childhood vaccination. We aimed to evaluate the vaccination status of adults and the factors that affected them. Methods: In this descriptive study, a questionnaire consisting of 15 items exploring sociodemographic variables, the status of vacciniation and the factors influencing the vaccination was applied to adult individuals who admitted to family medicine clinics of Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital. The data were entered into the statistical program and analyzed. Results: The average age of participants was 61.40±13.43. The proportion of participants who had adult vaccinations was 49.1% (n=108), average age of them were 60.68±13.47 and 66.7% were female. There was no significant relationship between age, sex, and education status of the adult vaccination's. The most important factor affecting the vaccination was physician 's recommendation (73%; n=86). the second factor was the effect of the media. Among the reasons for not having the vaccine, physician recommendation (70%; n=80) was found to be the first important factor also, the second factor was disbelief of need of vaccine. Discussion and Conclusion: In our study, it was determined that adult vaccination was inadequate and mostly influenza vaccine was used in adults. It was found that the physician's recommendation was the most common cause of the decision to get or not to get vaccinated. Since most frequently vaccinations were performed in family medicine units, physicians’ mainly family physicians’ recommendations will increase the rate of vaccination in adulthood. Thus, effort should be given to increase the awareness of physicians. We believe that raising the awareness of the community within the scope of health literacy will also positively affect adulthood vaccination.