title: Influenza vaccination prevalence and demographic factors of patients and GPs in primary care in Austria and Croatia: a cross-sectional comparative study in the framework of the APRES project.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare influenza vaccination coverage rates in Austria and Croatia, countries with missing data in the Eurosurveillance and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports. In addition, we assessed demographic factors of GPs and patients and calculated associations regarding vaccination rates.
  
  
  
  This cross-sectional study was conducted within the context of thethe appropriateness of prescribing antibiotics in primary health care in Europe with respect to antibiotic resistance (APRES) project. Between November 2010 and July 2011, 40 GP practices attempted to recruit 200 patients to complete questionnaires about their influenza vaccination status and demographics. Statistical analyses included subgroup analyses and logistic regression models.
  
  
  
  Data from 7269 patient questionnaires could be analyzed (3309 Austria and 3960 Croatia). The vaccination coverage rates were low (2009/2010: A 18.2 vs. C 20.9%, P < 0.001; 2010/2011: A 13.7 vs. C 18.6%; P < 0.001). The rates were found to be highest in persons aged 65 years and older (2009/2010: A 35.1 vs. C 49.5%, P < 0.001; 2010/2011: A 31.1 vs. C 45.7%, P < 0.001) and lowest in children (2009/2010: A 8.5 vs. C 2.0%, P < 0.001; 2010/2011: A 4.3 vs. C 1.6%, P = 0.002). Besides, demographics in the adjusted regression model for Austria being vaccinated was associated with consulting a female GP (OR, 4.20; P < 0.001) and in Croatia with five or more GP consultations per year (OR, 4.41; P < 0.001).
  
  
  
  The vaccination coverage rates for Austria and Croatia were low, with the highest rates found in persons aged 65 years and older, showing that public coverage of the vaccination costs might increase vaccination rates. However, other factors seem to be relevant, including the engagement of GPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria kathryn.hoffmann@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paget
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wojczewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, Zagreb University School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katic
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, Zagreb University School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soldo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria; D017523:Croatia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines