Abstract

Background: Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in Saudi Arabia to the extent that the country is ranked fourth in terms of incidence rate. Diabetes poses multiple health threats not only to patients but also to society and the healthcare system. Thus, numerous measures have been adapted to contain diabetes risk. One of these is the recommendation of vaccination sets for diabetic patients. This study aims to measure the coverage of hepatitis B virus (HBV), influenza, and pneumococcal vaccines in diabetic patients.
Methods: Using a retrospective chart review, data were collected from 385 diabetic patients. An approved data collection sheet was used. Phone calls were utilized for subjective-based questions. The sample size was calculated via Raosoft@. Descriptive or inferential statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.
Results: Type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients represented 44.2% and 55.8%, respectively. Only 15.2% of patients received influenza vaccination in the last 12 months. Approximately 14.2% of diabetic patients received the pneumococcal vaccine, while the HBV vaccination rate was 12.9%. Hospital admission within the last 12 months of influenza-vaccinated patients was 22.8%, while the unvaccinated patients recorded 77.8%. Diabetic patients reported that physicians’ recommendation rates of vaccines were 25.8% for influenza vaccine, 15.5% for pneumococcal vaccine, and 10.8% for HBV vaccine.
Conclusion: Measuring vaccination rates of 12.9%, 14.2%, and 15.2%, respectively, concludes that compliance with the medical recommendations of vaccinating diabetic patients is suboptimal. Healthcare institutions must collaborate with primary care physicians to integrate more efficient and adherent vaccination programs.

Key words: Vaccination, diabetic patients, hepatitis B, pneumococcal, influenza, Saudi Arabia.