[Knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning measles vaccination. Approaches for national vaccination education]. / Wissen, Einstellung und Verhalten zur Masernimpfung. Ansätze für eine nationale Impfaufklärung.

Achievement of the goal to eliminate measles by 2015 set by the European region of the World Health Organization (WHO) necessitates an increase in the willingness of German nationals to get vaccinated. To identify influential factors on vaccination behavior as the basis for communication measures specific to target groups, the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) has conducted two representative surveys on attitude, knowledge, and practice concerning vaccination among parents of children between 0 and 13 years as well as among adolescents and adults. The parents' survey (n = 3,002) revealed that more than one-third see measles as a harmless disease. The survey of adolescents and adults (n = 4,483, 16-85 years) also shows that about one-quarter of the interviewees between 16 and 44 years regarded vaccination against measles as not very important. Moreover, 81 % of adults born after 1970 without sufficient existing vaccine protection were not aware of the new measles vaccination recommendation for this age group. Personal consultation with the physician was regarded as the major source of vaccination information in both surveys. About half of all persons interviewed intended to obtain information about vaccinations on the Internet. The results of these studies were used for the development of a nationwide multilevel BZgA campaign on vaccination protection against measles, its goal being to support medical professionals with comprehensive information and to enable adolescents and young adults via different communication measures to make well-informed vaccination decisions.

[Recallsystems in primary care practices to increase vaccination rates against seasonal influenza]. / Erinnerungssysteme zur Erhöhung der Impfrate gegen saisonale Influenza bei Risikopatienten. Eine Befragung niedergelassener Arzte.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Influenza is a major health threat for high-risk groups like elderly patients and those with chronic conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the number of physicians (general practitioners, internists, paediatricians) who use recall systems in order to increase the vaccination rate against influenza among high-risk groups. Also measured was the vaccination rate among these physicians and their attitude towards influenza and influenza vaccination of target groups. In addition, correlations between physicians' attitudes, their own immune status and the use of recall systems were calculated. METHODS: A telephone-based survey was conducted in which 700 physicians participated (445 general practitioners, 180 internists and 75 paediatricians). RESULTS: 25% of physicians use a recall system to increase vaccination rates among target groups. (31% in West Germany and 12% in East Germany). Telephone-based recall systems are used most often (40%), while personal (21%), written (17%) and electronic (2%) reminders are less widespread. 70% of the physicians themselves were regularly vaccinated against influenza, 16% irregularly and 14% never. Among physicians from West Germany there is a strong correlation between their own immune status and the use of a recall system: The percentage of physicians using a recall systems is significantly higher if they are vaccinated regularly (37%) rather than never (18%). 85% of those physicians who use a recall system say that vaccination rates had increased as a result. CONCLUSIONS: Increased use of a recall system can result in higher immunization rates against seasonal influenza among high-risk groups.

[Physicians as key communicators of the influenza vaccination for the elderly, patients with chronic conditions, and health care workers. Results of a nationwide survey in the context of the national influenza vaccination campaign]. / Niedergelassene Arzte als Multiplikatoren der Influenzaimpfung bei älteren Menschen, chronisch Kranken und medizinischem Personal. Ergebnisse einer bundesweiten Repräsentativbefragung im Rahmen der nationalen Influenza-Impfkampagne.

The Federal Center for Health Education (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung - BZgA) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) started a national vaccination campaign against influenza in October 2006. Main target groups are people aged 60 and above, patients with chronic conditions, and health care workers (HCWs). The recommendation of the physician is very important for a patient's decision to be vaccinated against influenza. Therefore, measures to increase the vaccination rate of the elderly and patients with chronic conditions were aimed at physicians as key communicators. This survey was designed to assess influenza vaccination status of physicians (general practitioners, internists, pediatricians) and their employees. Furthermore, influenza-related attitudes of the physicians and the percentage of physicians who recommend the vaccination to target groups were determined. A telephone-based survey (computer-assisted telephone interview - CATI) was conducted. A total of 700 physicians participated (432 general practitioners, 178 internists and 90 pediatricians). Physicians reported an influenza vaccination rate of 73% during the 2006/2007 influenza season. Most physicians were vaccinated to protect themselves. A total of 93% of the respondents consider influenza as dangerous for elderly patients, 94% for patients with chronic conditions, and 59% for HCWs. Vaccination is seen as very effective to prevent an influenza infection by the physicians (of 93% for the elderly, of 94% for the chronically ill, and of 83% for HCWs). Half of the physicians recommend influenza vaccination to the elderly, the chronically ill as well as to HCWs. Though physicians are well aware of the potential danger of an influenza infection for these target groups, the percentage of physicians (50%) who recommend vaccination is too low. Future optimization measures of the influenza campaign of BZgA and RKI will focus more closely on physicians' recommendations to patients of target groups.