title: Health care professionals' awareness of, knowledge about and attitude to influenza vaccination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Influenza vaccination is recommended to all health care professionals (HCPs). However, vaccination rate among HCPs is low and may be due to uncertainty about the effectiveness of the vaccine and fear of its adverse effects. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the awareness, knowledge, and attitude of HCPs towards influenza vaccination and we ascertain reasons for not getting vaccinated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional conducted in 6 major hospitals in Saudi Arabia. 245 anonymous questionnaires were distributed to a convenient sample of staff during the 2012-2013 influenza season. The validated questionnaire consists of five sections that collect information about: demographics, attitude towards influenza vaccination, knowledge about influenza virus and vaccination, current practice and awareness of published guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  242 completed questionnaires were received, a response rate of 98%. 38% of HCPs reported getting vaccinated. The most common reasons given by HCPs for not getting vaccinated were: fear of contracting illness (16%), belief that they are not at risk from influenza because they are young and healthy (13%) and being unaware of vaccine availability (13%). Non-availability of vaccine (43%) was the highest barrier for not providing vaccine for patients and HCPs followed by safety concerns for the patients (35%) and the respondents (33%). Almost 75% of HCPs were not aware of the influenza immunization guidelines published by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and Centre for Disease Control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the recommendations, only low percentage of HCPs in Saudi Arabian hospitals is vaccinated against influenza. The attention of health policy makers is needed to improve compliance of HCPs with guidelines on influenza vaccination.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Hail University, Hail, Saudi Arabia; Medication Safety Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: Thamer.alshammary@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Thamir M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Alshammari
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Lama S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: AlFehaid
authors.affiliation: Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Joud K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: AlFraih
authors.affiliation: Medication Safety Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hisham S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Aljadhey
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Attitude and knowledge; Healthcare professional; Influenza vaccine; Saudi Arabia