KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE AMONG THE STUDENTS OF SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF UNIVERSITY OF MOSTAR TOWARDS INFLUENZA VACCINATION

Abstract

Introduction: Influenza is an acute, infectious disease of the human respiratory system, caused by influenza viruses. Since it is a vaccine - preventable disease, medical students as future health professionals should be involved in programs promoting the importance of flu vaccination.
Aim: Compare knowledge, attitude and practice of vaccination against influenza among students of the first and sixth year of School of Medicine of University of Mostar.
Subjects and methods: The study included a total of 81 students of the School of Medicine of the University of Mostar. The data were collected using a questionnaire that consists from demographic data of the respondents andtwenty questions with the offered answers about the knowledge, attitude and practice of vaccination against influenza.
Results: Sixth - year students showed greater knowledge about contraindications for vaccination. Both groups of students showed mainly positive attitudes about influenza vaccination. No surveyed student was vaccinated against influenza and many of them reasoned that influenza is not a serious illness.
Conclusions: Despite good knowledge and mostly positive attitudes about influenza vaccination, no student who participated in the study was vaccinated against influenza. Therefore, it would be useful for medical students to provide additional information about the importance of illness prevention, because they represent an important part of the future workforce in the health system, that will affect the global attitudes of vaccination.