title: How French physicians manage with a future change in the primary vaccination of infants against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis? A qualitative study with focus groups.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As in other European countries, the French vaccination schedule changes according to epidemiological and socio-economic situations. Further changes are planned for 2013, including the withdrawal of one dose for primary vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis and Haemophilus influenzae. A partnership between the French Technical Vaccination Committee and the French Institute for Health and Medical Research designed a study to assess primary care physicians' agreement about this modification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study with focus groups and semi-structured interviews in France. Four focus groups were conducted with physicians, supplemented by four individual interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The physicians of the survey had accepted the suggested vaccination schedule well. A few concerns had been underlined: fear of less follow-up care for infants resulting from the removal of one visit driven by the primary vaccination; fear of loss of vaccine efficacy; suspicion of the existence of financial arguments at the origin of this change; and adjustment to current vaccination schedule. Several suggestions were made: providing strong support from health authorities; developing stable and simple recommendations; providing effective tools for monitoring patient's vaccination status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians' opinions suggested a good acceptance of a possible change about primary vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis and Haemophilus influenzae. Physicians' suggestions resulted from this qualitative study on a new vaccination schedule. It showed how that their involvement was feasible for preparing the implementation of a new vaccination schedule.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U707, 27, rue Chaligny, Paris F-75012, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lungarde
authors.forename: Fanette
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blaizeau
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Auger-Aubin
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Floret
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilberg
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jestin
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hanslik
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Goaster
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lévy-Bruhl
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blanchon
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossignol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000517:prevention & control; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005602:France; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013742:Tetanus / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines