Abstract
Background: Influenza outbreaks occur annually and have significant ramifications on the wellbeing of the population. Influenza is given high priority in Saudi Arabia where numerous reports of different types of influenza outbreaks have occurred in recent years. 
Objective: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of influenza vaccination among healthcare providers.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design, and data was collected using a predesigned questionnaire which was validated by a panel of experts and tested for reliability (Cronbach’s alpha =0.8). All primary healthcare workers in Arar city (Saudi Arabia) were taken as a comprehensive sample between January and March 2018. The questionnaire used a Likert scale that assessed the reasons for embracing or rejecting the influenza vaccines. A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: In total, 204 health professionals (72 physicians, 102 nurses and 30 other staff members) filled the questionnaire. The mean age of the healthcare professionals was 31.9±8.7 years. Self-report of seasonal influenza vaccination uptake was 55.9% (65.3% for physicians, 55.9% for nurses and 33.3% for other staff). Perceived risk of severity of influenza was 2.5 times more in the compliant group than that of the non-compliant group (p<0.001, 95% CI: 1.4-4.4).
Conclusion: Utilization of influenza vaccine is 55% in both nurses and physicians despite 89% of them being aware of influenza vaccination guidelines and MOH recommendations. It is needed to ensure the intensive education of healthcare providers to understand the protective value of influenza vaccine.

 

 
Keywords: Influenza, Vaccination behavior, Healthcare workers

 

» HTML Fulltext    » PDF Fulltext    » doi: 10.19082/7217
Womens Running ShoesBest Halloween Candy , Healthiest Halloween Treats

The  most recent editorial (June 2021)

Ethics of Publishing Case Reports: Do We Need Ethics Approval and Patient Consent?

An editorial by Dr. Mehrdad Jalalian

Read more.


The worldwide spread of COVID-19 as an emerging, rapidly evolving situation, and the dramatic need of urgent medicine or vaccine, has rapidly brought new hypotheses for pathophysiology and potential medicinal agents to the fore. It is crucial that the research community provide a way to publish this research in a timely manner.

 

To contribute to this important public health discussion, the Electronic Physician Journal is excited to announce a fast-track procedure to help researchers publish their articles on COVID-19 related subjects that fall under the broad definition of public health, internal medicine, and pharmacology. We are especially welcome to all hypotheses about the pathological basis of the COVID-19 infection and the possible characteristics of potential medicine and vaccine. Submit your manuscript here

 


Our previous editorial (June 2020)

Lessons from COVID-19 pandemic and the Morocco’s success story.

An editorial by Dr. Benksim Abdelhafid (Morocco)

Read more.


 

The 6th World Conference on Research Integrity (WCRI) is to be held on June 2-5, 2019 in Hong Kong.

The WCRI is the largest and most significant international conference on research integrity. Since the first conference in Lisbon in 2007, it has given researchers, teachers, funding agencies, government officials, journal editors, senior administrators, and research students opportunities to share experiences and to discuss and promote integrity in research. Read more:


 

TDR Clinical Research and Development Fellowships

Call for applications

Deadline for submission: 7 March 2019, 16:00 (GMT)

TDR provides fellowships for early- to mid-career researchers and clinical trial staff (e.g. clinicians, pharmacists, medical statisticians, data managers, other health researchers) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to learn how to conduct clinical trials. Read more:


Meta-Analysis Workshops in New York, USA, and London, UK, in April and May 2019

Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to learn how to perform and report a Meta-analysis correctly. Two Meta-analysis workshops are organized in April and May 2019 by Dr. Michael Borenstein in New York, USA (April 08-10, 2019) and London, UK (May 27-29).

About the Instructor

Dr. Michael Borenstein, one of the authors of Introduction to Meta-Analysis, is widely recognized for his ability to make statistical concepts accessible to researchers as well as to statisticians. He has lectured widely on meta-analysis, including at the NIH, CDC, and FDA. Read more: