title: Vaccine eligibility and acceptance among ambulatory obstetric and gynecologic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess vaccine eligibility and factors associated with vaccine acceptance among ambulatory obstetric and gynecologic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous office-based survey was administered to women seeking ambulatory obstetric and gynecologic care at a large women's hospital from December 2007 to July 2008. Information collected included: demographics, medical and vaccination history, interest in receiving vaccines and attitudes towards vaccine providers. Vaccine eligibility was based on age and/or self-reported risk factors in accord with the 2007-2008 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adult immunization schedule. Vaccine eligibility was examined using descriptive statistics, and demographic characteristics were compared using chi-squared analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to assess factors associated with participants' willingness to accept vaccines from their obstetrician-gynecologist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1441 women completed the survey. The majority of participants (87%) would accept vaccines if recommended by their obstetrician-gynecologist. The primary factors associated with vaccine acceptance were having less than a high school education, being privately insured, currently being pregnant, reporting a history of vaccinations and previously receiving vaccinations from an obstetrician-gynecologist. A significant portion of participants were eligible for the hepatitis B, influenza and HPV vaccines (≥ 50% for each). The type of vaccine did not influence willingness to accept vaccines from an obstetrician-gynecologist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A majority of women appear eligible for, and will accept, vaccinations regardless of specific vaccine, if recommended by their obstetrician-gynecologist. These findings justify ongoing efforts to expand immunization services offered by obstetrician-gynecologists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, 90 Plain Street, Providence, RI, USA. wvitek@wihri.org
authors.forename: Wendy S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Vitek
authors.forename: Aletha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akers
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Meyn
authors.forename: Galen E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Switzer
authors.forename: Bruce Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Beigi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult