Physician beliefs and practices regarding the use of hepatitis A vaccine.
BACKGROUND
In 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended routine vaccination of children against hepatitis A in states, counties, and communities with rates twice the national average or greater. Milwaukee is such a community.


OBJECTIVE
To assess physician knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding hepatitis A disease and hepatitis A vaccine recommendations in Milwaukee.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 291 Milwaukee pediatricians and family physicians using a self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
The response rate was 46%. Of physicians responding, 88% were aware that hepatitis A vaccine was recommended for all children in Milwaukee >2 years of age; 61% believed hepatitis A was a significant health problem, with a significant difference between pediatricians and family physicians (74% versus 43%); and 65% stated they offered the vaccine "almost always" or "most of the time" to children between the ages of 2 and 19 years.


CONCLUSIONS
More physician education is needed regarding the public health impact of hepatitis A and the value of the vaccine.
Sabnis
Svapna
S
Department of Pediatrics Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA. ssabnis@mcw.edu
Pomeranz
Albert J
AJ
Mao
Jingnan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010821:Physicians, Family; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014922:Wisconsin
D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines