Vaccination attitudes and practices of physicians and nurses in adult oncology settings

This study aimed to assess the opinions and clinical practices of oncologists and nurses about vaccination recommended for both healthcare workers and cancer patients. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among physicians and nurses working in adult oncology settings between September 2019 and February 2022. An online survey was sent to the participants via e-mails, with two reminders at 4-week intervals for non-respondents. A total of 80 physicians and 84 nurses completed the survey. The highest vaccination rates for physicians and nurses were reported for hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus, and influenza vaccines. Considering the previous influenza season, only 31.25% of the physicians and 22.62% of the nurses had the influenza vaccine. Eighty-seven percent (n=70) of physicians and 57.14% (n=48) of nurses recommended adult vaccines to cancer patients. Influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines were the most recommended vaccines. Thirty-seven percent of physicians and 44.05% of nurses encountered anti-vaccine attitudes among the patients. Seventeen percent of the physicians had no opinion on the timing of vaccination during conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Forty percent, 28.17%, and 18.31% of physicians recommended vaccination 'just before treatment', 'between treatment cycles', and 'immediately after the end of treatment', respectively. Vaccination rates of physicians and nurses working in oncology practice and the recommendation of vaccination to cancer patients are still lower than desired levels. It appears that HCPs have limited knowledge regarding vaccination time schedules in cancer patients.