Impact of Knowledge and Attitudes of Health Care Workers towards Seasonal Influenza Vaccination of Patients Attending in Primary Health Care at Saudi Arabia 2023

Abstract

The seasonal influenza vaccine is an important preventive measure against influenza and its associated complications. In Saudi Arabia there is a seasonal influenza vaccination policy, the influenza vaccine is from the national immunization program. Data on vaccination coverage remain scarce with no previous surveillance programs or awareness campaigns implemented in the country. The seasonal influenza vaccine is beneficial for both the patients attending in Primary Health Care and infants. It is considered as primary prevention for patients attending in Primary Health Care and it decreases the serious outcomes when infection does occur. Health care workers are associated with immunological and physiological changes in many the Patients.  Influenza in Patients attending in Primary Health Care has been associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) advocate influenza vaccination, influenza is an acute respiratory disease of global importance due to its pandemic potential.

Aim of the study:  study sought to understand Knowledge and attitudes of health care workers towards seasonal influenza vaccination of patients attending in Primary Health Care at Saudi Arabia 2023.

Methods: Knowledge, attitudes (KA) study was administered to 200 patients attending in Primary Health Care aged 18 and older attending public health institutions in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 participants from health care centers in Saudi Arabia, during the from September 2023 to December 2023

Results: shows the majority age most of participants 35-50 were (42.0%) gender majority of participants were(57.0%) were female,  regarding the HCWs classification majority of participants health professionals (nurses, midwives) were (45.0%), regarding the level of education the most of participant postgraduate were (49.0%) .

 Conclusion: This study of Knowledge and attitudes concerning influenza vaccination among patients attending in Primary Health Care various factors emerged as key determinants influencing the intention of patients to undergo influenza vaccination. They include age, geographic residence, related health conditions or underlying disease(s). Notably, majority of patients who did not believe in vaccine’s protection against influenza still expressed a willingness to be vaccinated. Another portion of patients indicated their intention to receive the influenza vaccine.