Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors regarding Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccination and Prevention of Tick-Borne Diseases among Primary Care Physicians in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, May–September 2022
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Published:2023-04-07
Issue:4
Volume:11
Page:961
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ISSN:2076-2607
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Container-title:Microorganisms
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Microorganisms
Author:
Coyer Liza12ORCID, Sogan-Ekinci Aylin3, Greutélaers Benedikt1, Kuhn Julia3, Saller Franziska S.1, Hailer Jana4, Böhm Stefanie15ORCID, Brosch Rainer3, Wagner-Wiening Christiane3, Böhmer Merle M.16ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), 80636 Munich, Germany 2. ECDC Fellowship Programme, Field Epidemiology Path (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 16 973 Solna, Sweden 3. Department of Health Protection, Infection Control and Epidemiology, Baden-Wuerttemberg Federal State Health Office (LGA), Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany 4. District Health Office Reutlingen, 72764 Reutlingen, Germany 5. Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany 6. Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto-von-Guericke-University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
Abstract
In 2020, a record number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases was reported in major endemic areas in Germany, i.e., the southern federal states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria. Most cases were unvaccinated. Other tick-borne diseases (TBDs), including Lyme borreliosis and tularemia, are rising, too. Thus, strategies are needed to increase TBE vaccination uptake in risk areas and promote education on TBD prevention. Primary care physicians are key providers of both vaccinations and TBD education. The TBD-Prevention (TBD-Prev) study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of primary care physicians in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria with regard to TBE vaccination and prevention of TBDs and to derive strategies for increasing vaccination rates and improving knowledge about TBE and other TBDs in the population and among primary care physicians. We invited all primary care physicians (N = 14,046) in both states to participate by mail. Using standardized, self-administered questionnaires, available both on paper and online, we asked physicians anonymously about their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors with respect to TBE vaccination and TBD prevention and their need for further information/educational materials. A total of 2321 physicians participated between May and September 2022 (response rate 17%), of whom 1222 (53%) worked in Baden-Wuerttemberg and 1067 (46%) in Bavaria. Among the participating physicians, 56% were male, 71% were >50 years and 51% worked in an individual practice. Furthermore, 91% were aware of the German national vaccination guidelines, and 98% perceived their knowledge of the risks and benefits of vaccination as adequate. A total of 97% offer TBE vaccinations, 67% provide vaccination counselling during initial consultations with new patients and 64% actively remind patients about due vaccinations. In addition, 24% expressed a need for further information materials, mainly traditional, analogue media such as flyers (82%) and posters (50%), and named timeliness, quality assurance, easy comprehensibility and independence from the pharmaceutical industry as the most important characteristics of such materials. Almost all participating physicians reported offering TBE vaccinations and feeling well-informed about TBE vaccination and TBDs. However, active offering of vaccinations and education could be further improved, and additional, low-threshold information materials are needed. Based on these results, we will develop and provide various materials on TBE vaccination and TBDs, in particular flyers and posters, for use by physicians during consultations.
Funder
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Subject
Virology,Microbiology (medical),Microbiology
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