title: Predictors for and coverage of influenza vaccination among HIV-positive patients: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: Influenza vaccination is recommended for HIV-infected patients, but limited data about vaccination rates are available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the coverage of and predictors for influenza vaccination among HIV-positive patients.
  
  
  
  All HIV-positive patients who visited the HIV out-patient department of the University Hospital of Vienna, Austria, between June and August 2015 were asked to participate in this survey by completing a questionnaire.
  
  
  
  A total of 455 HIV-positive patients completed a questionnaire, with 359 male and 96 female participants with a mean age of 46 years. The influenza vaccination rate for the previous season (2014/2015) was 11.9% [n = 54/455; 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.2-15.2%]. Older age was significantly associated with a positive influenza vaccination status. Obtaining information through a medical consultation or receiving a direct recommendation for vaccination by a physician had a significant impact on vaccination behaviour. The probability of being vaccinated against influenza was about 13 times higher among patients who received a recommendation for vaccination by their family physician or by their HIV specialist (P < 0.001). Important reasons for declining vaccination were fear of side effects (39%), not considering influenza as a severe disease (36%) and reasons related to HIV: 17% were worried that the vaccine could worsen the course of HIV infection and 16% believed vaccination would fail because of their compromised immune system.
  
  
  
  A low influenza vaccination rate of 11.9% was detected in this HIV-positive cohort. The most effective impact for a positive vaccination status was direct recommendation of the influenza vaccine by the attending physician.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.|Division of General Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poeppl
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herkner
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Tillhof
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grabmeier-Pfistershammer
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rieger
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.|Center of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Forstner
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burgmann
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lagler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; 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; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000073887:Vaccination Coverage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: 
  HIV
  ; influenza; predictors; vaccination; vaccination coverage