چکیده (انگلیسی):

Background:Pregnant women have an increased risk of influenza complications. Influenza vaccination during
pregnancy is safe and effective, however coverage in Australia is less than 40%. Pregnant women who receive a
recommendation for influenza vaccination from a health care provider are more likely to receive it, however the
perspectives of Australian general practitioners has not previously been reported. The aim of the study was to
investigate the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices of general practitioners practicing in South-Western
Sydney, Australia towards influenza vaccination during pregnancy.
Methods:A qualitative descriptive study was conducted, with semi-structured interviews completed with
seventeen general practitioners in October 2012. A thematic analysis was undertaken by four researchers, and
transcripts were analysed using N-Vivo software according to agreed codes.
Results:One-third of the general practitioners interviewed did not consider influenza during pregnancy to be a
serious risk for the mother or the baby. The majority of the general practitioners were aware of the government
recommendations for influenza vaccination during pregnancy, but few general practitioners were confident of their
knowledge about the vaccine and most felt they needed more information. More than half the general
practitioners had significant concerns about the safety of influenza vaccination during pregnancy. Their practices in
the provision of the vaccine were related to their perception of risk of influenza during pregnancy and their
confidence about the safety of the vaccine. While two-thirds reported that they are recommending influenza
vaccination to their pregnant patients, many were adopting principles of patient-informed choice in their approach
and encouraged women to decide for themselves whether they would receive the vaccine.
Conclusions:General practitioners have varied knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about influenza vaccination during
pregnancy, which influence their practices. Addressing these could have a significant impact on improving vaccine
uptake during pregnancy.