Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Parents towards Recommended Adult Vaccinations: An Explanatory Survey in the Geographic Area of Naples, Italy

"...physicians should increase their efforts to reduce parents' vaccine hesitancy, concerns, and misconceptions, through adequate communication about vaccination..."

Vaccine hesitancy and the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate have been widely studied among different groups. The present cross-sectional study explores the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards recommended vaccinations for adults between 19-64 years of age in Naples, Italy. It is hoped that evaluating the level of knowledge and the acceptability of vaccinations among this population may prove useful in implementing targeted educational interventions and policies aimed at increasing vaccine uptake, especially among older adults or those with chronic health conditions.

The survey was conducted from October to December 2018 among 412 adults in the geographic area of Naples, Italy. The mean age of participants was 45.2 years (range 19-71).

A large majority (88.4%) had received information about vaccination from a variety of sources, including physicians (79.5%), mass media (18.9%), and the internet (11.6%). More than half (53.4%) reported that they needed more education on the vaccinations recommended during adulthood, and only 16% knew all vaccinations recommended to adults between 19-64 years of age. Healthcare professionals, those with a chronic condition, and those who had received information about vaccinations from physicians were more likely to know the recommended vaccinations.

Only 16.9% self-reported to have received at least one vaccination recommended to adults between 19-64 years of age. Those who were healthcare professionals, who had at least one chronic condition, and who considered the administration of the vaccinations as being useful were more likely to have received at least one recommended vaccination.

Among unvaccinated respondents, more than half reported a positive attitude toward willingness to receive a recommended vaccination. This positive attitude was significantly higher among those who considered vaccinations as being useful and among who had received information from physicians. Also, female participants and those who had a lower number of children were more likely to have a positive attitude toward the usefulness of the administration of vaccinations recommended to adults between 19-64 years of age.

Reasons for unwillingness to receive vaccinations during adulthood included having an objection to the administration of the vaccines (77.9%), perceiving vaccine-preventable diseases as being non-dangerous (31.6%), and concerns about side effects of vaccines (9.1%).

Based on these findings, the researchers conclude that greater efforts by policymakers and healthcare providers are needed to increase adults' knowledge of recommended vaccines. Information strategies are needed in order to increase the access of adults and the healthy population to vaccination services. Furthermore, it is crucial that healthcare providers have a high knowledge and favourable attitudes about vaccination so as to be able to provide their adult patients with access to evidence-based information for reducing the burden of infectious diseases.