Compliance with influenza vaccination recommendations among outpatients with chronic diseases in China in 2022

Abstract Background Influenza vaccination is recommended for people with chronic medical conditions to decrease risk of hospitalization and death from influenza. However, research on compliance with influenza vaccination recommendations among adults with chronic diseases who have an established doctor-patient relation is insufficient in China. Methods The study was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey of physician-selected patients being managed for chronic diseases as outpatients during November 2022. Questions assessed knowledge about influenza and influenza vaccination and related factors; the outcome was patient-reported receipt of influenza vaccine (compliance). Chi-square tests were used for univariate analyses; logistic regression was used for multifactorial analysis. Results Among 547 subjects, 19.6% reported receiving influenza vaccine annually. Factors positively associated with compliance were annual income (≥ 150,000 yuan; OR = 6.619, 95%CI = 2.552–17.167), recalling receiving a doctor recommendation (OR = 4.223, 95%CI = 2.051–8.693), and having a higher score of basic vaccine knowledge (OR = 2.474, 95%CI = 1.377–4.446). Conclusions Compliance with influenza vaccination recommendations among outpatients with chronic medical conditions and established doctor-patient relations is suboptimal, and highlights the importance of appropriate financing mechanisms, recommendations by medical doctors to their patients, and providing information about influenza vaccination.