Cardiologists' knowledge and perceptions of the seasonal influenza immunisation.

Int J Cardiol

Monash Heart, Monash Health, Victoria, Australia; Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia. Electronic address:

Published: March 2024

AI Article Synopsis

Article Abstract

Background: Seasonal influenza immunisation reduces cardiovascular events in high-risk patients, but 50% do not receive routine immunisation. The perceptions and current role of cardiologists in recommending and prescribing influenza immunisation has not been well described.

Methods: We used an exploratory sequential mixed methods design. Semi-structured interviews of 10 cardiologists were performed to identify themes for quantitative evaluation. 63 cardiologists undertook quantitative evaluation in an online survey. The interviews and surveys addressed (a) attitudes and behaviours regarding influenza immunisation and (b) preventative care in cardiology.

Results: One quarter (25.4%, n = 16) of cardiologists recommended influenza immunisation to all patients. Less than half (49.2%, n = 31) recommended influenza immunisation to secondary prevention patients. Almost 1/3 of respondents (31.7%, n = 20) were uncertain or unaware of the guidelines regarding influenza immunisation and patients with cardiac disease. Most cardiologists believed that general practitioners were responsible for ensuring patients received influenza immunisation (76.2%, n = 48).

Conclusions: Despite reducing cardiovascular events in high-risk patients, influenza immunisation is not widely recommended by cardiologists. Further clinician education is needed to address the knowledge gaps which prevent recommendation and uptake of this guideline directed treatment.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2023.131654DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

influenza immunisation
36
immunisation
10
influenza
9
seasonal influenza
8
cardiovascular events
8
events high-risk
8
high-risk patients
8
quantitative evaluation
8
recommended influenza
8
immunisation patients
8

Similar Publications

Study of Children Aged Under 2 Years Admitted With RSV at Four Australian Hospitals [2021-2022].

J Paediatr Child Health

January 2025

WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, VIDRL, Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Aims: Primary aim was to review severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) hospitalisations caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children aged < 2 years in paediatric hospitals in Australia. Secondary aims included RSV subtyping, assessing RSV seasonality and contributing to the World Health Organisation's RSV surveillance programme.

Methods: We prospectively reviewed the medical records of children (< 2 years of age) with a confirmed SARI who were admitted to one of four major Australian paediatric hospitals and had a respiratory sample analysed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neonates are susceptible to respiratory viral infections, with outbreaks reported in areas with a high population of neonates, such as postpartum care centers and neonatal wards. While specific antiviral drugs are currently available for influenza, symptomatic supportive treatment remains the primary approach for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), making prevention particularly important. The article closely follows the "Expert recommendations for the prevention of common respiratory viral infections in neonates" and provides an in-depth interpretation of recent breakthroughs in RSV prevention.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: With improved outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to the use of anti-retroviral therapy, ensuring adequate preventative healthcare and management of HIV-related comorbidities is essential.

Aims: To evaluate adherence with recommended guidelines for comorbidity and immunisation status screening amongst people living with HIV within a hospital-based setting across two timepoints.

Methods: A single-centre retrospective case series was conducted at a hospital between 2011 and 2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Risk factors for re-hospitalization within 90 days of discharge for severe influenza in children.

BMC Infect Dis

January 2025

Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Hebei Province, 133 Jianhua South Street, Shijiazhuang, 050031, Hebei Province, China.

Background: Influenza virus is a contagious respiratory pathogen that can cause severe acute infections with long-term adverse outcomes. For paediatric patients at high risk of severe influenza, the readmission and the associated risk factors remain unclear.

Methods: Children discharged with a diagnosis of severe or critical influenza from October 2021 to March 2022 were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The development of safe and effective mucosal vaccines are hampered by safety concerns associated with adjuvants or live attenuated microbes. We previously demonstrated that targeting antigens to the human-Fc-gamma-receptor-I (hFcγRI) eliminates the need for adjuvants, thereby mitigating safety concerns associated with the mucosal delivery of adjuvant formulated vaccines. Here we evaluated the role of the route of immunization in the mucosal immunity elicited by the hFcγRI-targeted vaccine approach.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!