Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 Dec 14:9:463.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-463.

Paediatricians knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding immunizations for infants in Italy

Daniela Anastasi  1 , Gabriella Di Giuseppe, Paolo Marinelli, Italo F Angelillo
Affiliations

Paediatricians knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding immunizations for infants in Italy

Daniela Anastasi et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether paediatricians have appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding vaccinations for infants in Italy.

Methods: A random sample of 500 paediatricians received a self-administered anonymous questionnaire covering demographic and professional characteristics; knowledge about the mandatory, recommended, and not indicated vaccinations for infants; attitudes about vaccinations for infants; behaviour regarding current administration or willingness to administer mandatory or recommended vaccinations for infants and immunization education programs of the parents.

Results: Only 42.3% paediatricians knew all recommended vaccinations for infants and this knowledge was significantly higher in females, in those who worked a higher number of hours for week, and in those who use guidelines for immunization practice. Only 10.3% had a very favourable attitude towards the utility of the recommended vaccinations for infants and this was significantly higher in those who administered recommended vaccinations for infants. A large proportion (82.7%) of paediatricians routinely informed the parents about the recommended vaccinations for infants and this appropriate behaviour was significantly higher among younger, in those with a higher number of years in practice, and in those who administered the recommended vaccinations for infants.

Conclusion: Training and educational interventions are needed in order to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding vaccinations for infants among paediatricians.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Impact of vaccines universally recommended for children-United States, 1990-1998. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1999;48:243–248. - PubMed
    1. Andre FE, Booy R, Bock HL, Clemens J, Datta SK, John TJ, Lee BW, Lolekha S, Peltola H, Ruff TA, Santosham M, Schmitt HJ. Vaccination greatly reduces disease, disability, death and inequity worldwide. Bull World Health Organ. 2008;86:140–146. doi: 10.2471/BLT.07.040089. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ministero della Salute. Calendario vaccinale. http://www.ministerosalute.it/malattieInfettive/paginaInternaMenuMalatti... [Accessed December 22, 2008]
    1. National Vaccine Advisory Committee. Standards for child and adolescent immunization practices. National Vaccine Advisory Committee. Pediatrics. 2003;112:958–963. - PubMed
    1. Benin AL, Wisler-Scher DJ, Colson E, Shapiro ED, Holmboe ES. Qualitative analysis of mothers' decision-making about vaccines for infants: the importance of trust. Pediatrics. 2006;117:1532–1541. doi: 10.1542/peds.2005-1728. - DOI - PubMed