title: Physician attitudes towards influenza immunization and vaccine mandates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We surveyed physicians' opinions and acceptance of influenza immunization.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based survey was sent to all physicians in two academic departments during spring 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  227 (40.5%) physicians responded. Physicians who frequently cared for high-risk patients self-reported higher immunization rates than physicians with infrequent contact (P=0.0002). There were no significant differences in immunization rates between emergency medicine (EM) and internal medicine (IM), between those with and without children at home, nor by age group. A majority (84.6%) supported mandatory vaccination. IM physicians were more supportive of mandates than EM physicians (P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported immunization rates were high among study physicians. Acceptance of mandatory vaccination was substantial, but varied by specialty.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. deSante@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: deSante
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caplan
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shofer
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Behrman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines