Positive attitudes of French general practitioners towards A/H1N1 influenza-pandemic vaccination: a missed opportunity to increase vaccination uptakes in the general public?
Attitudes of general practitioners (GPs) towards A/H1N1 pandemic vaccination are unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with computer-assisted telephone interviewing in the French Regional Panel of General Practices from June 16 to September 22, 2009. Of 1434 respondents representative of GPs in four French regions, 885 (61.7%) were willing to accept A/H1N1 pandemic vaccination for themselves. The personal history of seasonal flu vaccination was the strongest independent predictive factor of willingness to accept A/H1N1 pandemic vaccination (p<.0001). GPs receiving seasonal vaccines every year were more likely to accept A/H1N1 pandemic vaccination than those who were never vaccinated in the prior 3 years (adjusted OR=4.38; 95% CI, 2.44-4.67). Willingness to accept pandemic vaccination was also significantly associated with being on call for emergencies; positive attitudes towards other protective measures against A/H1N1 influenza virus in the practice; and a higher readiness to provide additional consultations in response to the pandemic. In conclusion, GPs showed a high acceptability of A/H1N1 pandemic vaccination. GPs' involvement in the mass vaccination campaign, which has been neglected by French public health authorities, may have increased uptake rates in the general public.
Schwarzinger
Michaël
M
INSERM, U912 Economic & Social Sciences, Health Systems & Societies (SE4S), 23 rue Stanislas Torrents, 13006 Marseille, France. michael.schwarzinger@inserm.fr
Verger
Pierre
P
Guerville
Marc-André
MA
Aubry
Catherine
C
Rolland
Sophie
S
Obadia
Yolande
Y
Moatti
Jean-Paul
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines