Knowledge and Awareness of Pediatricians About Rotavirus Infection and Vaccine Pediyatristlerin Rotavirüs Enfeksiyonu ve Aşısı Hakkında Bilgi ve Farkındalıkları
Cocuk Enfeksiyon Dergisi, cilt.16, sa.1, 2022 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2022
- Doi Numarası: 10.5578/ced.20229901
- Dergi Adı: Cocuk Enfeksiyon Dergisi
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Awareness, rotavirus vaccine, pediatrician
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: Rotavirus is the leading cause of diarrhea and, in particular, severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children, resulting in hospi-talizations and infant deaths around the world. Rotavirus vaccine is the most effective way to prevent rotavirus diarrhea. This study aims to as-sess the knowledge of pediatricians and pediatric residents about rota-virus infection and vaccine and their approach to the rotavirus vaccine. Material and Methods: The researchers provided a 39-item questionnaire to the participants. The questionnaire included questions about the demographic characteristics of the participants (n= 13), rotavirus infection (n= 7), rotavirus vaccine (n= 10), and the participants’ approach to the vaccine (n= 9). In addition to true-false and yes-no questions, there were also multiple-choice questions allowing participants to choose more than one option. Results: One hundred twelve physicians agreed to fill out the questionnaire and participate in the study. Forty (35.7%) participants were specialists and 72 (64.3%) were residents. The mean age of the participants was 31.83 ± 6.82 years. Thirty-five (31.3%) participants were working in a university hospital and 77 (68.8%) were working in a training and research hospital. 94.6% of the participants were aware that there are two different types of rotavirus vaccines in our country. When the participants were asked whether they recommend the rotavirus vaccine to their patients, 88.4% said they would recommend the vaccine, while this rate increased to 89.3% when asked whether they would immunize their children against rotavirus. When the participants were asked why they did not recommend the rotavirus vaccine to their patients or immunize their children, the responses were: 13.4-6.3% cost, 4.5-3.6% side effects, and 5.4-4.5% considered the vaccine ineffective. 86.6% of the partici-pants responded “yes” to the question asking whether the rotavirus vaccine should be included in the national vaccination schedule. When the participants were asked why they did not want the rotavirus vaccine to be included in the national vaccination schedule, the responses were: 15.2% cost, 4.5% side effects, and 4.5% considered the vaccine ineffec-tive. 97.3% of participants believed that lowering the cost of the rotavirus vaccine will boost immunization rates. Conclusion: Regardless of a physician’s level of knowledge, preconcep-tions about high cost, vaccination ineffectiveness, and side effects seem to contribute to a negative attitude towards the rotavirus vaccine. Better informing physicians about newly introduced vaccines, as well as boost-ing the level of knowledge and awareness of pediatricians working at the forefront of rotavirus infections and immunization, will have a positive impact on vaccination practices.