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Attitudes and Knowledge of European Medical Students and Early Graduates about Vaccination and Self-Reported Vaccination Coverage—Multinational Cross-Sectional Survey

Author

Listed:
  • Olga M. Rostkowska

    (Department of Transplantation Medicine, Nephrology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka 59, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland
    European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA), Rue Guimard 15, 1040 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Alexandra Peters

    (European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA), Rue Guimard 15, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
    Department of Surgery, Klinikum Porz am Rhein, Urbacher Weg 19, 51149 Cologne, Germany)

  • Jonas Montvidas

    (European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA), Rue Guimard 15, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
    LUHS Hospital Kaunas, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, A. Mickevičiaus g. 9, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Tudor M. Magdas

    (European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA), Rue Guimard 15, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
    Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Strada Victor Babeș 8, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Leon Rensen

    (European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA), Rue Guimard 15, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
    Leiden University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leiden, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands)

  • Wojciech S. Zgliczyński

    (School of Public Health, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Kleczewska 61/63, 01-826 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Magdalena Durlik

    (Department of Transplantation Medicine, Nephrology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Nowogrodzka 59, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Benedikt W. Pelzer

    (European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA), Rue Guimard 15, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
    Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, D-50931 Cologne, Germany)

Abstract

Vaccination is one of the most useful preventive interventions in healthcare. The purpose of our study was to gain overview of the opinions, knowledge, and engagement in vaccination practices among medical students (MS) and junior doctors (JD) in Europe. The survey was distributed from March 2016 until August 2016 via the e-mail and social media of the European Medical Students’ Association. In total, 1821 responses from MS and JD from 34 countries in the European region were analysed. The majority of respondents agreed that vaccines are useful (98.7%) and effective (97.2%). Although the necessity of revaccination was supported by 99.2%, only 68.0% of the respondents went through with it. Even though the potential benefit of the flu vaccination seems to be acknowledged by our participants, only 22.1% of MS and JD declared getting the flu shot every or every other season. MS and JD were in favour of specific mandatory vaccination for medical staff (86.0%) and medical students (82.7%). Furthermore, we analysed the self-reported vaccination coverage of our participants regarding 19 vaccines. Of the respondents, 89.5% claimed to provide advice about vaccination to their friends and family. In conclusion, European MS and JD have a very positive attitude towards vaccination. However, their behaviour and knowledge demonstrate certain gaps which should be further addressed in medical education.

Suggested Citation

  • Olga M. Rostkowska & Alexandra Peters & Jonas Montvidas & Tudor M. Magdas & Leon Rensen & Wojciech S. Zgliczyński & Magdalena Durlik & Benedikt W. Pelzer, 2021. "Attitudes and Knowledge of European Medical Students and Early Graduates about Vaccination and Self-Reported Vaccination Coverage—Multinational Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3595-:d:526989
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Susło & Piotr Pobrotyn & Lidia Brydak & Łukasz Rypicz & Urszula Grata-Borkowska & Jarosław Drobnik, 2021. "Seasonal Influenza and Low Flu Vaccination Coverage as Important Factors Modifying the Costs and Availability of Hospital Services in Poland: A Retrospective Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
    2. Jonas Montvidas & Milda Basevičiūtė & Kamilė Burokaitė & Virginija Adomaitienė & Sigita Lesinskienė, 2021. "COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Psychosocial Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Health-Science Students of Lithuania–A National Cross-Sectional Online Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-9, December.

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