title: Determinants of influenza vaccination coverage rates among primary care patients in Krakow, Poland and the surrounding region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Poland is significantly behind other European countries in terms of influenza vaccination coverage. In addition, the vaccination rate among health care personnel in Poland is also very low. The aim of this study was to determine the current barriers to achieving effective influenza vaccination coverage among primary health care (PHC) patients and physicians in Poland and to reveal any associations between the patients' and physicians' characteristics and the influenza vaccination coverage rate among patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was distributed among 18 PHC physicians and 533 their patients in Krakow, Poland and the surrounding region. The data from patients were associated with the doctors' characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reasons for not receiving the influenza vaccine differed between patients and their physicians. Among the patient population, the main reason behind vaccination non-compliance was the self-perception of good health, while forgetting about the vaccination was the main reason among the physicians. The factors that had the positive influence on the patients' decision to receive the vaccination involved: older age, being a widower, being retired, having a chronic disease, being vaccinated against influenza in the past and awareness of influenza complications. Moreover, those patients who had received sufficient influenza vaccination education from their healthcare provider and had been the patients of physicians who had been vaccinated against influenza, had significantly higher vaccination rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved patients and doctors education strategies are needed to maximize influenza vaccination coverage rates. Information regarding the need and benefits of the influenza vaccine, along with details on where and when to receive vaccination will provide a positive influence on a patients' decision-making process regarding vaccination compliance. Also, the free of charge influenza vaccinations for all primary health care workers should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Chair of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Bochenska 4, 31-061 Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: katarzynanessler@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nessler
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Chair of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Bochenska 4, 31-061 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krztoń-Królewiecka
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine in English, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Anny 12, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chmielowiec
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Chair of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Bochenska 4, 31-061 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jarczewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Chair of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Bochenska 4, 31-061 Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Windak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010361:Patients; D010820:Physicians; D011044:Poland; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011361:Professional Competence; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Coverage; Determinants; Influenza; Vaccination