Source
University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. deSante@mail.med.upenn.edu
Abstract
AIM:
We surveyed physicians' opinions and acceptance of influenza immunization.
SCOPE:
A web-based survey was sent to all physicians in two academic departments during spring 2009.
RESULTS:
227 (40.5%) physicians responded. Physicians who frequently cared for high-risk patients self-reported higher immunization rates than physicians with infrequent contact (P=0.0002). There were no significant differences in immunization rates between emergency medicine (EM) and internal medicine (IM), between those with and without children at home, nor by age group. A majority (84.6%) supported mandatory vaccination. IM physicians were more supportive of mandates than EM physicians (P<0.0001).
CONCLUSION:
Self-reported immunization rates were high among study physicians. Acceptance of mandatory vaccination was substantial, but varied by specialty.
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