title: A(H1N1) pandemic influenza and its prevention by vaccination: paediatricians' opinions before and after the beginning of the vaccination campaign.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared an A(H1N1) influenza pandemic. In October 2009, the largest vaccination campaign in Canadian history began. The aim of this study was to document paediatricians' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding A(H1N1) pandemic influenza and its prevention by vaccination just after the beginning of the A(H1N1) vaccination campaign and to compare the results with those obtained before campaign initiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered mail-based questionnaire was sent to all Canadian paediatricians. Questionnaires were analyzed in two subsets: those received before and after the beginning of the vaccination campaign.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall the response rate was 50%. Respondents' characteristics were comparable between the two subsets. Before the beginning of the campaign, 63% of paediatricians perceived A(H1N1) pandemic infection as a serious disease, that would occur frequently without vaccination compared to more than 75% after. Before the vaccination campaign, half of respondents or less thought that the A(H1N1) vaccine was safe (50%) and effective (35%) compared to 77% and 72% after. The proportion of paediatricians who reported they had received sufficient information on A(H1N1) vaccine increased from 31% before to 73% after the beginning of the vaccination campaign. The majority of respondents intended to get vaccinated against A(H1N1) influenza themselves (84% before and 92% after). Respondents' intention to recommend the A(H1N1) vaccine to their patients increased from 80% before the beginning of the campaign to 92% after. In multivariate analysis, the main determinants of paediatricians' intention to recommend the A(H1N1) vaccine were their intention to get vaccinated against A(H1N1) influenza themselves and a belief that A(H1N1) vaccine would be well accepted by health professionals who administer vaccines to the public.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study show important increases in physicians' level of confidence about A(H1N1) vaccine's safety and immunogenicity and their willingness to recommend this vaccine to their patients. These changes could be explained, at least partially, by the important effort done by public health authorities to disseminate information regarding A(H1N1) vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Santé publique du Québec, 2400 d'Estimauville, Québec, Canada. eve.dube@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dubé
authors.forename: Defay
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fannie
authors.forename: Gilca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vladimir
authors.forename: Bettinger A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Julie
authors.forename: Sauvageau
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chantal
authors.forename: Lavoie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: France
authors.forename: Boucher D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: François
authors.forename: McNeil
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shelly
authors.forename: Gemmill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ian
authors.forename: Boulianne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nicole
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D010820:Physicians
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines