title: Attitudes and perceptions of influenza vaccination among Hong Kong doctors and medical students before the 2009 pandemic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vaccination is an important preventive measure for preparing against the influenza pandemics. This study investigated the attitudes and perceptions of influenza vaccination among doctors and medical students in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 204 doctors and 242 medical students in a teaching hospital in 2009. Participants' demographic and job characteristics, and influenza experience and vaccination in the previous year were assessed in the questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between uptake of influenza vaccination and the perceived benefits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medical students were more likely to have receive an influenza vaccination in the previous year (66.9 vs. 39.7%) and acknowledged the related benefits than doctors. Moreover, uptake of influenza vaccine was associated with perceived benefits of vaccination in both doctors and medical students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The perceived benefits of influenza vaccination are an important factor in vaccine uptake for both doctors and medical students in Hong Kong, and should be reinforced in the professional training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. kkmak@graduate.hku.hk
authors.forename: Kwok Kei
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Yuen Fung
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Yiu
authors.forename: Kwan Lung
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Kenneth Siu Hung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Kin Mei
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Lung Yi
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Wai Pan
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: To
authors.forename: King Hung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Pamela Pui Wah
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control; D010465:Perception; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines