Physicians' immunization knowledge, attitudes, and practices: a valid and internally consistent measurement tool.

摘要: Because physicians play a crucial role in immunizations,1–3 there is need for reliable and valid assessments of physician-related determinants immunizations. As part project aimed at improving immunization rates by targeting physicians,4 we developed measures factors, which, according to theories planned behavior5 cognitive social learning,6 influence physicians’ practices. Our include knowledge (understanding the schedule, efficacy, side effects vaccines); attitudes (evaluative reactions toward immunizations); vested interest (perceptions personal professional consequences self-efficacy (beliefs capability properly immunize); perceived barriers (factors hindering proper immunizations). With few exceptions,7–9 studies measuring these variables either do not examine or report reliability validity their measures. Interventions based on potentially unreliable invalid needs may result wasted resources detect real improvements should be those who plan interventions improve practices evaluate such interventions.