[Attitudes of adult asthma patients towards influenza vaccination]. / Eriskin astimli hastanin influenza asisina yaklasimi farkli mi?

INTRODUCTION: It is known that viral infections trigger exacerbations in asthma patients.There are conflicting reports on whether influenza vaccine is preventive or not. In this study, we aimed to evaluate asthmatic patient's attitude towards influenza vaccine and to determine which factors affect this attitude. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire involving data about demographic information, co-morbidities, frequency of viral upper respiratory tract infections, subject's influenza vaccination status and attitude towards vaccination had been filled for our outpatient clinic asthma patients and also for healthy controls. Results were evaluated separately for the two groups and then compared to each other. RESULT: For the study; 108 asthma patients (91 female, 17 male) and 110 non-asthmatic controls (64 female, 46 male) were enrolled. In asthma group, vaccination rates were significantly higher in the previous year (40.7%) and nearly half of them stated that they do regularly have influenza shots every year. Contrast to this find; half of the patients in the control group stated that they do not need to vaccinate themselves and 26.2% said that they don't believe influenza vaccine has any preventive effect. Also in the asthma group, this ratio was similar to the control group (20.3%). In asthma group, 66.7% of the patients who had side effects at their previous shots did not want to vaccinate themselves this year (p= 0.02). More than a half of the patients (53.1%) whom did not have shots had an episode of viral upper respiratory tract infection this year and this rate was significantly lower in the vaccinated group (p= 0.00). This result highlights the preventive effect of vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: We found that asthma patients' knowledge on influenza infection and vaccine were insufficient and also their belief towards the preventive features of the vaccination was low. Informing and encouraging patients about preventive medicine through various activities and meetings would be crucial.

The prevalence of latex allergy in sixth-year medical students: assessment of knowledge, risk, and attitudes about future specialty direction.

BACKGROUND: In the prevention of latex allergy, knowledge levels and risk determination for latex allergy of medical students gain importance. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the latex allergy knowledge levels of sixth-year medical students and their latex allergy risk. METHODS: Students completed a questionnaire that assessed basic knowledge of latex allergy and that evaluated latex-related symptoms and latex exposure. The specialty branch students were going to choose in the Medical Specialty Examination was also asked. Skin prick tests (SPTs) with latex and inhalant allergens and patch tests with latex-related products were then performed. Finally, students were asked again about any changes in branch selection after learning their individual risks. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty sixth-year students were enrolled. Forty-four percent of the students gave the right answer for description of latex. Correct identification of at least 1 latex-related product used outside and inside hospitals was 55.5% and 95.5%, respectively. The prevalence of latex sensitization was 4.4% according to SPT results. The positivity of SPT to any inhalant allergen was 35% (n = 64). None of the students changed their mind about their specialty branch after learning their latex allergy risk. CONCLUSIONS: Last-year medical students have a remarkably low latex allergy knowledge level, which imposes a serious professional risk. Training strategies based on the benefit to this risk group and reevaluation are strongly recommended before graduation from medical school.