Medical Science
Volume 24, Issue 102, March - April, 2020
Knowledge, attitude and practice about pneumococcal immunization among elderly in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ibrahim M Alyazidi1, Mohammed Abdulrahman Basheikh2, Salma Sait2, Hadeel A Alharthy1, Abdulrahman S Rihawi1, Asrar A Alahmadi1, Amal H Allohaibi1, Ammar M Bahati3
1Faculty of Medicine, Ibn Sina National College, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
3Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
Background: Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Infection by
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) in elderly adults or in those who have comorbidities and weak immunity can lead to
significant health problems. Immunization against this infection plays a cost-effective role in the reduction of the burden of
pneumonia on health. Aim: We aimed to determine the knowledge of and attitudes toward pneumonia and pneumococcal
vaccination in older adults in residential home care centers (RHCCs). Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with an
electronic interview questionnaire in RHCCs in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) between June 23 and July 23, 2018. A total of
265 individuals were accepted for participation in the study. We excluded those who were under 18 years old, and the sample
comprised 258 participants. Result: A total of 77.5% of participants confirmed that they did not receive the vaccine, 22.5% stated that
they did not know which vaccine they received, and no participants reported that they received the vaccine. Approximately half of
the sample did not know about the pneumonia vaccine. We observed positive attitudes toward vaccination among older adults,
despite their significant lack of knowledge about the pneumococcal vaccine. Conclusion: Healthcare workers are the only individuals
involved in the patient-physician relationship who play a critical role in distributing vaccine-related knowledge, and their
recommendations of the vaccine are lacking. However, the respondents are willing to be informed about the vaccination.
Medical Science, 2020, 24(102), 483-494
