Kontakt 2017, 19(1):e24-e28 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2017.01.002

Factors affecting seniors' attitudes to vaccination against influenzaNursing - Original article

Jana Martinková, Oľga Kabátová^*, Silvia Puteková

Trnavská univerzita, Fakulta zdravotníctva a sociálnej práce, Katedra ošetrovateľstva, Trnava, Slovenská republika

Introduction: Influenza is one of the seasonal acute infectious diseases. Vaccination of the elderly and the sick appears to be a key measure in prevention of the infection or significantly reduces the clinical picture of the disease.

Design: The work is a cross-sectional quantitative study carried out based on a questionnaire investigation.

Objective: The objective of the quantitative research was to determine the attitude of seniors to influenza vaccination and the impact of selected factors on the decision of seniors to get vaccinated.

Methods: The total sample consisted of 623 respondents (aged 60-89 years) who were enrolled in the survey sample based on a deliberate choice. The research was conducted through a questionnaire of our own design. Descriptive statistics and a chi-square test for pivot tables were used for processing the data obtained.

Results: The majority of seniors (81%) had not been vaccinated against the flu, and the remaining (19%) had been vaccinated. The most common reason reported by the respondents was that the vaccination was recommended by doctors and nurses (65%). Based on statistical tests, we found that there is a relationship between age and the presence of senior chronic disease and the decision to get vaccinated.

Conclusion: Education of seniors in the area of influenza prevention through vaccination is needed and can contribute greatly to experiencing a more active and longer life.

Keywords: Influenza; Seniors; Position; Vaccination; Factors

Received: August 5, 2016; Revised: October 22, 2016; Accepted: January 10, 2017; Published: March 28, 2017  Show citation