Last update:
12-Jun-2001

Arch Hellen Med, 17(6), November-December 2000, 593-599

ORIGINAL PAPER

The attitude of Greek doctors towards
the universal immunization against hepatitis B

P. PERDIKARIS, S. ANTHOUSI, A. AMANATIDOU, G. PAPAEVAGGELOU
Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens, Greece

OBJECTIVE The main goal of this survey was to assess (a) the attitude of Greek doctors towards the application of universal immunization against hepatitis B in Greece, (b) their views on the age at which the universal immunization against hepatitis B should be applied, and (c) the reasons for disagreement with universal immunization against hepatitis B in Greece.
METHOD A sample of 255 doctors was surveyed by administration of a questionnaire, between February 1997 and March 1998. The doctors included in the survey were from Athens and from certain other areas in Greece. x² analysis and multiple logistic regression were used to assess the relationship of variables hypothesized to predict the immunization policy preferred by the doctors.
RESULTS Among the doctors who were surveyed, 78.8% (201/255) agreed with the application of universal immunization against hepatitis B and 20% (51/255) preferred the immunization of high risk groups. The neonatal period and adolescence were the age groups preferred by the doctors for the application of universal immunization against hepatitis B (63.2%). The cost of the vaccine (33.3%) and the opinion that immunization against hepatitis B should be applied only for high risk groups (27.5%) were the main reasons for disagreement.
CONCLUSIONS The majority of the doctors preferred universal immunization against hepatitis B rather than immunization of high risk groups only. However, the Greek doctors need to be more informed in order for the prevention of hepatitis B to succeed in Greece.

Key words: Doctors’ attitude, Hepatitis B, Universal immunization, Vaccine.