KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND DETERMINANTS OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS VACCINATION AMONG PHYSICIANS AND OLDER ADULTS IN GREECE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY
Author(s)
Karolina Baran, MSc1, Melpomeni Peppa, PhD1, Konstantinos Syrigos, PhD1, George Gourzoulidis, PhD2.
1School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, 2Health Through Evidence, Athens, Greece.
1School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, 2Health Through Evidence, Athens, Greece.
OBJECTIVES: The recent inclusion of RSV vaccines in Greece’s National Immunization Program created the need to understand factors influencing vaccine uptake among eligible populations. This study aimed to compare physicians’ and older adults’ perceptions regarding RSV infection and vaccination, identify knowledge gaps, and explore barriers to implementation
METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between September and December 2025 among physicians (n=42) and adults aged ≥50 years (n=51) in Greece. Two structured questionnaires assessed sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of RSV infection, vaccination attitudes, and awareness of RSV vaccines. Descriptive statistics summarized responses, and non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis) evaluated differences across demographic and professional subgroups (p<0.05).
RESULTS: Both physicians and adults demonstrated generally favorable attitudes toward vaccination; however, important implementation barriers emerged. Among adults, 60.8% reported familiarity with RSV, while high-risk individuals did not perceive a greater need for vaccination than the general population (p=0.745), indicating suboptimal risk perception among individuals eligible for vaccination. Among physicians, 54.8% considered information provided by public health authorities insufficient, while attitudes toward mandatory vaccination differed significantly across specialties (p=0.001). Although awareness of RSV vaccines was generally high, knowledge gaps persisted regarding vaccine-related information. Physician recommendation emerged as the strongest determinant of vaccine acceptance, with 78.6% of adults reporting willingness to receive RSV vaccination following physician advice, highlighting the pivotal role of healthcare professionals in vaccine uptake
CONCLUSIONS: Physician recommendation emerged as the strongest determinant of RSV vaccination intent among adults aged ≥50 years. Limited risk perception among high-risk individuals and persistent knowledge gaps among both physicians and the public may hinder successful implementation of the newly introduced RSV vaccination program in Greece. Strengthening physician education and delivering targeted risk-communication interventions through primary care may improve vaccine uptake and support effective implementation of RSV prevention policies.
METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between September and December 2025 among physicians (n=42) and adults aged ≥50 years (n=51) in Greece. Two structured questionnaires assessed sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of RSV infection, vaccination attitudes, and awareness of RSV vaccines. Descriptive statistics summarized responses, and non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis) evaluated differences across demographic and professional subgroups (p<0.05).
RESULTS: Both physicians and adults demonstrated generally favorable attitudes toward vaccination; however, important implementation barriers emerged. Among adults, 60.8% reported familiarity with RSV, while high-risk individuals did not perceive a greater need for vaccination than the general population (p=0.745), indicating suboptimal risk perception among individuals eligible for vaccination. Among physicians, 54.8% considered information provided by public health authorities insufficient, while attitudes toward mandatory vaccination differed significantly across specialties (p=0.001). Although awareness of RSV vaccines was generally high, knowledge gaps persisted regarding vaccine-related information. Physician recommendation emerged as the strongest determinant of vaccine acceptance, with 78.6% of adults reporting willingness to receive RSV vaccination following physician advice, highlighting the pivotal role of healthcare professionals in vaccine uptake
CONCLUSIONS: Physician recommendation emerged as the strongest determinant of RSV vaccination intent among adults aged ≥50 years. Limited risk perception among high-risk individuals and persistent knowledge gaps among both physicians and the public may hinder successful implementation of the newly introduced RSV vaccination program in Greece. Strengthening physician education and delivering targeted risk-communication interventions through primary care may improve vaccine uptake and support effective implementation of RSV prevention policies.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EPH94
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
Infectious Disease (non-vaccine), Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)