This research study was funded by the ADEA SANOFI Diabetes Educators Award to investigate the factors that influence people with diabetes to have a flu vaccination. This paper presents data collected from diabetes educators about the information and education they provide for people with diabetes about the significance of having an annual Flu vaccination.

In Australia influenza and its complications is estimated to cause between 1,500 and 3,500 deaths and more than 18,000 hospitalisations per year (Diabetes Australia, 2014). People with diabetes are three times more likely to be hospitalised and three times more likely to die from the flu and its complications than other people. The flu may also interfere with their blood glucose levels causing difficulties with effective blood glucose control (Diabetes Australia 2014). Free flu vaccination is provided for people with a chronic disease such as diabetes in the National Immunization program.

Members of ADEA were invited to complete an online survey about their approach to educating people with diabetes to have an annual Flu vaccination. Data about the educators choice to have an annual Flu vaccination (if not, why not); if and when the educator discusses Flu vaccination with their patients/clients; how they provide information about Flu vaccination; what they tell people about Flu vaccination; and what, if any, follow-up processes they use to check if clients get a Flu vaccination.  Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and theme analysis of the diabetes educator responses.
Findings indicate the majority (82%) of diabetes educators encourage vaccination and are vaccinated themselves. However, many diabetes educators (77%) do not have a detailed education strategy or follow-up system to educate people with diabetes about flu vaccinations. This study provides new information about education strategies, factors influencing the decisions of people with diabetes to vaccinate or not and areas to improve practices related to flu vaccination.