Patient Preference and Adherence (Nov 2023)
Examining Influenza Vaccination Patterns Among Young Adults with Asthma: Insights into Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices
Abstract
Walid Al-Qerem,1 Ameen Alassi,1 Anan Jarab,2,3 Abdel Qader Al Bawab,1 Alaa Hammad,1 Fawaz Alasmari,4 Badi’ah Alazab,1 Daoud Abu Husein,1 Nadeen AL Momani,3 Judith Eberhardt5 1Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, 11733, Jordan; 2College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia; 5School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law, Department of Psychology, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BX, UKCorrespondence: Walid Al-Qerem, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, 11733, Jordan, Tel +962777209601, Fax +96264291432, Email [email protected]: Asthma is a major chronic disease of all ages, globally. Exacerbations are a significant problem for asthmatic patients. Despite advances in asthma management and efforts to identify asthma triggers, viral infections of the respiratory tract remain the most frequent triggers of asthma exacerbations. This study explored knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of asthmatic patients towards receiving the influenza vaccine.Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 397 adult asthmatic patients visiting the outpatient respiratory clinics of three Jordanian medical facilities.Results: The research included 66.4% females, with a median age of 32 years. The results showed that 42.4% of enrolled asthmatics had never received the flu vaccine and only 51.1% reported that they intended to take the vaccine in the current year. Most of those who had been vaccinated at least once in their lifetime reported that the side effects were mild (61.8%). Variables that decreased refusal/hesitancy towards receiving the flu vaccine in the current year included having well-controlled asthma (RRR = 0.193, 95% Cl (0.053– 0.698), p =0.012), and high knowledge about asthma and flu (RRR= 0.916, 95% Cl (0.847– 0.990), p =0.028, respectively).Conclusion: A small number of the participants adhered to vaccinating against the flu which is due to lack of knowledge about the asthma, flu, and the vaccine. To address this challenge, we propose targeted health education campaigns, collaboration with healthcare providers, and utilization of digital platforms.Keywords: asthma, exacerbation, influenza, influenza vaccine, morbidity
