Behaviors, Knowledge, and Attitudes Towards Influenza Vaccination in a Population of Spinal Cord Injury and Disease (SCI/D) Veterans

Evans CT, Weaver FM, Legro M. Behaviors, Knowledge, and Attitudes Towards Influenza Vaccination in a Population of Spinal Cord Injury and Disease (SCI/D) Veterans. Paper presented at: American Paraplegia Society Annual Meeting; 2001 Sep 1; Las Vegas, NV.

Background: Persons with spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) are at increased risk of developing repiratory complications due to their impairment. They are more likely to die from influenza or pneumonia than the general population. Influenza vaccine has been shown to be effective and efficacious in the general population. However, data from a 1998 medical record review of VA SCI Centers indicate vaccination rates in this population are low (national average = 26%). To improve these rates, barriers and facilitatiors to providing influenza vaccines to this population need to be identified.Design: Telephone survey from September through November 2000 of veterans from 13 SCI centers.Methods: 40 respondents from each SCI center were randomly sampled from a database maintained by VA;s National SCI/D Strategic Healthcare Group, which identifies active users of the SCI centers. Survey questions assessed attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors of patients regarding influenza vaccination.Results: Respondents interviewed (n = 377) were predominately paraplegic, male, and white, with a mean age of 58.6 years.