Influenza immunisation rate for 2005 and factors associated with receiving this vaccine in patients aged 65 years and over admitted to a general medical ward at Auckland City Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influenza immunisation rate for 2005 in patients aged 65 years and over admitted to a general medical ward at Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand; to identify factors associated with receiving this vaccine; and to assess whether particular patient groups have a low influenza immunisation rate.


METHODS
Consecutive patients aged 65 years and over admitted to two medical wards were surveyed. Demographic data, how recently patients had last seen their general practitioner (GP), whether patients had received an influenza vaccine reminder from their GP, and whether patients had received the influenza vaccine in 2005 were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate which variables were associated with receiving the influenza vaccine.


RESULTS
148 of 200 (74%) patients who answered the questionnaire received the influenza vaccine. The variables found to be associated with receiving the influenza vaccine were whether patients had seen their GP in the last 6 months and whether patients had received an influenza vaccine reminder from their GP.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-quarters of patients in this study received the influenza vaccine. We have not been able to identify patient groups that have a low influenza immunisation rate. Reminding patients of the benefits of the influenza vaccine or offering this at the time of discharge from hospital as autumn approaches each year may increase the influenza immunisation rate of those recently hospitalised.
Curry
Elizabeth
E
Department of Medicine, Auckland City Hospital.
Kerr
Nathan
N
Yang
Joseph
J
Briggs
Simon
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007252:Influenza Vaccines