Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41501901›Full record

ArticleBMC rheumatology2026

Factors influencing vaccination decisions in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease: a qualitative approach.

Anastasia Suslow, Romy Lauer, Uta Kiltz, Chantal Giehl, Kerstin Hellwig, Theresa Oganowski, Thomas Grüter, Maria Zacharopoulou, Andreas Stallmach, Anika Franz and 10 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC rheumatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Anastasia SuslowInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine (AM RUB), Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany. anastasia.suslow@rub.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2198-0311
Romy LauerDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0404-6095
Uta KiltzRuhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5668-4497
Chantal GiehlDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Marien Hospital Herne, Ruhr University Bochum, Herne, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3771-1394
Kerstin HellwigDepartment of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4467-9011
Theresa OganowskiDepartment of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Thomas GrüterDepartment of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8927-9818
Maria ZacharopoulouRuhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Andreas StallmachDepartment of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6101-5244
Anika FranzDepartment of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
Ursula MarschallDepartment Medicine and Health Services Research, BARMER Institute for Health System Research, Wuppertal, Germany.
Joachim SaamDepartment Medicine and Health Services Research, BARMER Institute for Health System Research, Wuppertal, Germany.
Catharina SchumacherDepartment Medicine and Health Services Research, BARMER Institute for Health System Research, Wuppertal, Germany.
Stephanie StockFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology (IGKE), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1726-9300
Dusan SimicFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology (IGKE), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Arim ShukriFaculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology (IGKE), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Kathrin SchlößlerInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine (AM RUB), Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6419-0945
Ina Carola OtteDepartment of Health Services Research, Institute of Diversity Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0280-0899
Horst Christian VollmarInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine (AM RUB), Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0117-7188
VAC-MAC consortium

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPatients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (iRMD) have an increased risk of infections due to immunosuppression and autoimmune disease. While vaccinations are an important preventive strategy, vaccination coverage remains insufficient in Germany. The study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators for vaccination uptake from the perspective of iRMD patients, general practitioners (GPs), and rheumatologists.

methodsWe conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews with German iRMD patients (n = 15), GPs (n = 10), and rheumatologists (n = 5). Data were analyzed using Kuckartz's structured content analysis. The analysis focused on attitudes towards vaccination, information needs, decision-making, and perceived role distribution in care.

resultsA trust-based doctor-patient relationship and consistent, comprehensible information promoted willingness to vaccinate. Barriers included uncertainties regarding immunosuppressants, unclear responsibilities between GPs and rheumatologists, and inconsistent or conflicting medical recommendations. Patients desired a proactive approach from physicians and clearly assigned responsibilities. Physicians emphasized interprofessional exchange but stated time and structural challenges.

conclusionThe results underline the importance of coordinated communication and clear responsibilities in the vaccination process for iRMD patients. To increase vaccination rates among patients with iRMD, the focus should be on targeted information services, improved allocation of tasks between GPs and rheumatologists, timely scheduling of vaccinations (ideally before initiating immunosuppressive therapy), clear responsibilities for initiating and coordination of vaccination, and a structured, transparent flow of evidence-based information between specialists. The results provide a basis for the development of practical intervention strategies to increase vaccination uptake in this high-risk group.

trial registrationThe study was registered at the German Register of Clinical Studies (DRKS): https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00031559 (Registration Date: 28.08.2023).

Indexed as

Inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseasePhysician–patient communicationQualitative content analysisVaccination barriers and facilitatorsVaccination hesitancy

Identifiers

PMID41501901
PMCPMC12849479

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.