Influenza vaccination uptake and attitudes among adult cancer patients in Japan: a web-based questionnaire survey before the 2020/2021 season

Figures & data

Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of participants

	Number (%)
Age
≥80	4 (2.5)
70–79	16 (9.8)
60–69	39 (23.9)
50–59	53 (32.5)
40–49	36 (22.1)
30–39	11 (6.7)
20–29	4 (2.5)
Sex
Male	65 (39.9)
Female	98 (60.1)
Type of cancer
Leukemia	98 (60.1)
Breast cancer	15 (9.2)
Prostate cancer	8 (4.9)
Lymphoma	8 (4.9)
Colorectal cancer	8 (4.9)
Lung cancer	5 (3.1)
Type of treatment
Chemotherapy	106 (65.0)
Radiotherapy	52 (31.9)
Surgery	47 (28.8)
Hematopoietic stem cell transplant	40 (24.5)
Hormone	24 (14.7)
Molecular targeted drug	11 (6.7)
Type of medical institution
University hospital	65 (39.9)
General hospital	59 (36.2)
Cancer hospital	34 (20.9)
Clinic	5 (3.1)
Type of department
Hematology	68 (41.7)
Oncology	24 (14.7)
General internal medicine	12 (7.4)
Radiation therapy	11 (6.7)
Treatment for cancer has already finished
Yes	89 (54.6)
No	74 (45.4)
Number of family members living with participant
0	18 (11.0)
1	44 (27.0)
2	39 (23.9)
3	28 (17.2)
4	21 (12.9)
5	7 (4.3)
>6	6 (3.7)

Table 2. Main reasons for receiving or not receiving influenza vaccination

	Number (%)
Reasons for receiving influenza vaccination in the last season	N = 100
Recommended by medical professionals	29 (29.0)
Researching on vaccination through books or the Internet	23 (23.0)
Supposed to receive vaccination in the workplace	17 (17.0)
Recommendation by family members or friends	6 (6.0)
Introduction from local government	5 (5.0)
Receives regular vaccinations	5 (5.0)
Reasons for not receiving influenza vaccination in the last season	N = 63
Fear of adverse event	19 (30.2)
Not concerned about infection of influenza	14 (22.2)
Not trusting in the effect of vaccine	8 (12.7)
Experience of adverse event or instruction by physician	7 (11.1)
Had no time	5 (7.9)
It costs money	5 (7.9)

Table 3. Multiple regression analysis, predicting the intention to receive influenza vaccination in the next season. Outcome variable: intention to receive influenza vaccine in the next season

				95% CI for Exp(B)
	B	SE	p	Lower	Upper
Use of Chemotherapy** ^a	−2.281	0.878	0.009	0.018	0.571
Doctor’s Recommendation ^a	0.048	0.876	0.956	0.188	5.838
Vaccination Before 2019 ^a	−0.019	0.678	0.978	0.260	3.710
Vaccination in 2019–2020*** ^a	3.035	0.815	<0.001	4.212	102.819
History of Flu* ^a	1.123	0.556	0.043	1.034	9.144
Trust in Vaccination Effect	0.648	0.539	0.229	0.665	5.494
Need of Vaccination	0.130	0.660	0.844	0.313	4.151
Recommendation for Others	0.917	0.520	0.078	0.903	6.927
COVID-19 Impact on Vaccine Necessity	0.761	0.387	0.050	1.001	4.573

B = unstandardized beta; SE = standard error; CI = confidence interval. ^a = Dichotomous variables (0 = No, 1 = Yes). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

“Doctor’s Recommendation” = Whether vaccination was recommended by the doctor of cancer treatment (1) or not (0).

“Vaccination Before 2019” = Whether the participant had received vaccine before 2019 (1) or not (0).

“Vaccination in 2019–2020” = Whether the participant received vaccine in 2019–2020 (1) or not (0).

“History of Flu” = Whether the participant have been infected with the flu (1) or not (0).

“Trust in Vaccine Effect” = How much the participant trusts the effect of influenza vaccination (1 to 5).

“Need of Vaccination” = How much the participant thinks vaccination is necessary (1 to 5).

“Recommendation for Others” = How much the participant would recommend vaccination to others (1 to 5).

“COVID-19 Impact on Vaccine Necessity” = How much COVID-19 increased the participant’s recognition that vaccine is necessary (1 to 5).

Table 4. The change of intention to receive influenza vaccination in the next season

Participants under 65 years old		With one’s own expense		With hypothetical free provision
		Yes	No/Not decided	Yes	No/Not decided	No answer
Vaccination in the last season	Yes (N = 83)	81 (98%)	2 (2%)	69 (83%)	0	14 (17%)
	No (N = 51)	16 (31%)	35 (69%)	25 (49%)	18 (35%)	8 (16%)

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, MK, upon reasonable request https://www.megri.or.jp/inquiry.