Influenza vaccination of primary healthcare physicians may be associated with vaccination in their patients: a vaccination coverage study

BACKGROUND: To assess the contribution of physician-related factors, especially their influenza vaccine status, in the vaccination coverage of their patients. METHODS: A study of vaccination coverage was carried out in Spain in 2011–12. The dependent variable (vaccination coverage in patients aged ≥65 years) was obtained from regional records. Information was gathered on the vaccination of physicians through an anonymous web survey. We compared the vaccination coverage of patients with the vaccination of their physicians using the Student t test. Associations were determined using a multilevel regression model. RESULTS: The coverage in patients aged ≥ 65 years was 56.3% and was higher (57.3%) in patients whose physician had been vaccinated than in those whose physician had not (55.2%) (p = 0.008). In the multilevel regression model, vaccination of the physician was associated (p = 0.049) with vaccination of their patients after controlling for the effects of age (p = 0.046), region (p = 0.089), and opinions on the effectiveness of the vaccine (p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination of physicians together with their opinions on the effectiveness of the vaccine may be a predictor of vaccination coverage in their patients. Further studies are required to confirm this. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12875-015-0259-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.