Vaccination perception and attitudes among patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy

Background

Immunization against vaccine preventable diseases is an essential but mostly overlooked issue in oncology practice. Despite the presence of several guidelines, vaccination coverage rates among cancer patients are quiet low. We aimed to investigate the utilization of adult immunization recommendations and the perception of the patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy on immunization.

Methods

A 15-item questionnaire about immunization in adults with cancer diagnosis was administered to patients with various cancers treated in daycare chemotherapy unit of Hacettepe University Cancer Institute.

Results

Total of 229 patients completed the survey. 74.7% of the patients agreed that people over 18 years of age must be vaccinated, and 54% of patients were vaccinated at least once, most commonly against influenza (25.3%) and tetanus (22.3%) over 18 years old. Higher rate of participants was opposed to vaccination of patients with cancer diagnosis compared with those who was opposed to vaccination of healthy adults (p 

Conclusions

Among adult patients with cancer and receiving chemotherapy, immunization rates were found to be very low. Main reason was the lack of recommendation by the primary physician involved in the treatment, mostly the oncologist. Awareness on this issue in physicians, particularly oncologists, may increase vaccination rates.

Clinical trial identification

Legal entity responsible for the study

N/A

Funding

N/A

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.