Validity of self‐reported vaccination status among French healthcare students. (11th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Loulergue, P.; Pulcini, C.; Massin, S.; Bernhard, M.; Fonteneau, L.; Levy‐Brühl, D.; Guthmann, J.‐P.; Launay, O.; Tacconelli, E.
• Is Part Of: Clinical microbiology and infection. Volume 20:Number 12(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: O1152
• Page End: O1154
• Publication Date: 2014-08-11
• Subjects: Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Diagnostic microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.01
• DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12759
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1198-743X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="clm12759-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Data on validity of self‐reported vaccinations are scarce. This study, performed on healthcare students in Paris (France), aimed to evaluate this validity for occupational vaccinations. The validity of self‐reported vaccination status was compared with written information. A total of 432 students were enrolled. Sensitivity rates for BCG, hepatitis B and measles were over 74%. For diphtheria‐tetanus‐polio and pertussis, sensitivity was below 50%. Specificity was between 70 and 95% for dTP‐pertussis, and below 35% for all others. Overall, the validity of self‐reported information was low, meaning that checking medical records remains the preferable strategy for assessing immunization status.</p> </abstract>