AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING AMONG PHYSICIANS REGARDING INFLUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES FOR CARDIOVASCULAR PATIENTS

Abstract

Objectives: We conducted this survey to evaluate the knowledge of cardiologists, internists, and family physicians regarding influenza and pneumonia vaccination among cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. Methodology: An online survey was conducted including practicing cardiologist, internists, and family physicians at various positions working in tertiary health care centres of all major hospitals in all over the Pakistan. A structured questionnaire was designed to assess the physicians’ knowledge toward influenza and pneumococcal vaccine and barriers for prescribing it to the recommended CVD patients. Results: A total of 380 physicians participated in this survey, out of which 58.9% (224) were male and majority 96.3% (366) were ≤ 40 years of age. A 82.6% (314) participants indorsed that the pneumococcal vaccine is Class I indication in cardiac patients above 65 years of age, while, 48.2% (183) considered it to be recommended by the ACC/AHA in all age groups of cardiac patients. Pneumococcal vaccine are considered to be live attenuated vaccines by the 41.8% (159) of the participants. The mean knowledge score was found to be 63.09 ± 13.61. The most common stated reasons for not prescribing pneumococcal vaccine was not readily available, 42.9% (42), followed by the perception that it is not indicated, 36.7% (36). Conclusion: Most of the physicians were not thoroughly well-aware about indications of the vaccine in CVD patients. Additionally, scope of the vaccine is under-estimated because of lack of knowledge regarding importance of vaccine and secondly due to unavailability of vaccine in most of the areas of Pakistan.