Chronic diseases in older people and influenza vaccination: the guidance of health professionals and the role of the media

• Autor(a) principal: Bacurau, Aldiane Gomes de Macedo
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Francisco, Priscila Maria Stolses Bergamo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Medicina de Família e Comunidade (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://www.rbmfc.org.br/rbmfc/article/view/2819
• topic: Influenza Vaccine; Health Centers; Aged; Chronic disease; Epidemiology, descriptive.; Vacunas contra la influenza; Centros de Salud; Aciano; Enfermedad crónica; Epidemiología descriptiva.; Vacinas contra influenza; Centros de Saúde; Idoso; Doença Crônica; Epidemiologia descritiva.

Introduction: Information on the presence of chronic diseases in older adults is not registered during influenza vaccination campaigns, which hinders its identification (proportion) in vaccinated older people. Objective: To describe the prevalence of self-reported chronic diseases in older people vaccinated against influenza; to verify the influence of the media in the decision to receive the vaccine; and if older adults received guidance on the importance of the vaccine, according to the type of health professional. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with data collected via interviews with older people vaccinated against influenza (n=798) in a Health Center of Campinas (state of São Paulo, Brazil) in 2019. Results: Most individuals were women (58.0%), with high school degree or higher education (53.0%), and with health insurance (72.3%). The most prevalent diseases were hypertension (56.9%; 95%CI 53.4-60.3), diabetes (24.7%; 95%CI 21.8-27.8), heart diseases (13.6%; 95%CI 11.4-16.2), and respiratory diseases (5.6%; 95%CI 4.2-7.5). A maioria (58,0%) considerou que a mídia influenciou sua decisão de tomar a vacina. The majority (58.0%) considered that the media influenced the decision to have the vaccine; 21.1% of the older adults received guidance on the importance of vaccination, mainly provided by physicians (67.4%), nurses (18.2%), and health workers (7.0%). Conclusions: The main diseases reported by the vaccinated older adults were hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, and respiratory diseases. The guidance of health professionals was little reported, and most older people mentioned that the media influenced the decision to be vaccinated. The authors emphasize the need and relevance of investing in health communication strategies to inform the population about the importance of influenza vaccination for older adults and those with chronic diseases.