Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: The aim of our study is to determine the COVID-19 infection and vaccination status among hospital workers and to examine the reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Material and Methods:A questionnaire was administered to 412 volunteers working in our hospital, querying their COVID-19 disease and vaccination statuses and the reasons for not being vaccinated.Based on PCR tests, participants were divided into 2 separate groups: those who had contracted COVID-19 and those who had not.Those who had received at least three doses of the vaccine were classified as the "vaccine-compliant" group, while those who had received two or fewer doses and those who had never been vaccinated were classified as the "vaccine-hesitant" group.Data from these groups were compared.Results: Of the 412 hospital workers, 241 (58.5%) had contracted COVID-19 infection.Eighty-one (20%) participants expressed hesitations about vaccination.Women, nurses, and those with vaccine hesitancy were more common in the COVID-19 group (p=0.015,p=0.032, p<0.001, respectively).Physicians had the highest rate of vaccination compliance, followed by non-medical staff (p=0.009,p=0.03, respectively).Nurses were the most numerous in the vaccine-hesitant group (p=0.046).The influenza vaccination rate was significantly higher in the vaccine-compliant group (p=0.03).Reasons for vaccine hesitancy among participants included doubts about vaccine effectiveness (28 [34.57%]), distrust in the vaccine (23 [28.39%]), fear of side effects (16 [19.75%]), presence of allergies (8 [9.88%]), and negative influences from social media and the community (6 [7.41%]).Among participants who had never been vaccinated, nurses (14 [66%]) and medical secretaries (4 [19%]) were the most represented. Conclusion:Ensuring that hospital staff adhere to general precautions, providing them with information about the effectiveness, safety, importance, necessity, and side effects of the vaccine, and addressing their concerns are crucial for the success of vaccination campaigns.
Source: Journal of İzmir Chest Hospital
Author: Hülya Şahin
Institution: Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University
Language: Turkish
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4392015336