Effect of School-Based Education Intervention on Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Uptake Among Secondary Schoolgirl Students in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: A Quasi-experimental Study

Background School-based educational interventions are critical because they provide an opportunity to strengthen preventive measures by educating students about the importance of vaccination and promoting healthy practices within the community. Aim The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of influenza vaccination education in terms of knowledge and attitudes among secondary schoolgirl students in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methods This open-label, parallel-group, quasi-experimental study included 419 secondary school girls in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The control group comprised 199 participants, while the intervention group comprised 220 participants. Both groups were administered a self-administered Arabic questionnaire prior to the study to collect information on participants' demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding seasonal influenza and its vaccine. Subsequently, the intervention group was presented with a brief educational video and evaluated via a post-test. The primary outcomes were the students' knowledge and attitudes about seasonal influenza vaccines. The secondary outcomes were the participants' practices and reasons for not receiving the vaccine for seasonal influenza. Results Following an educational intervention about seasonal influenza and its vaccine, there was a statistical increase in knowledge and attitudes among students compared to a pre-intervention baseline. However, in both intervention and control groups, only a small proportion of participants had received the influenza vaccine, either once or on more than one occasion. Most participants employed additional preventive measures beyond vaccines; however, the majority also believed that vaccines were ineffective or perceived influenza as a relatively minor illness. Conclusion Implementing an influenza vaccination education program effectively enhances the knowledge and attitudes of secondary school female students in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, further measures need to be taken to enhance the low vaccination uptake among the target population.