Acceptability of a COVID-19 vaccine and role of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on vaccination willingness among medical students

Authors : Mehmet Onur KAYA, Burkay YAKAR, Esra PAMUKÇU, Erhan ÖNALAN, Ramazan Fazıl AKKOÇ, Edibe PİRİNÇCİ, Mehmet Ferit GÜRSU

Pages : 417-424

Doi:10.18621/eurj.907213

View : 22 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 2021-07-04

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objectives: Vaccination to the population is the most effective way to get rid of the COVID-19 pandemic, which currently has no effective treatment. For the high vaccine acceptance rate, it is important to determine the vaccine willingness of individuals and the barriers to vaccination. We aimed to determine the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine and the effect of attitudes, perception and beliefs on vaccination willingness among medical students. Methods: In February 2020, a cross-sectional survey was conducted online among medical student. A total of 734 medical students out of 980 medical students answered the questionnaire forms insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(response rate: 75.4%);. The online questionnaire collected socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes, risk perception and beliefs about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine. Vaccine hesitancy, rejection and acceptance were determined by self-report of medical students. Results: Total of 739 medical students included study. Students declared that 60.1% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n = 444); of them to be willing to vaccinated, 14.2% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n = 105); refused and 25.7% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n = 190); were not sure. Covid-19 willingness to be vaccinated was higher in female insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p = 0.005);, clinical students insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p < 0.001);, those who ever tested for COVID-19 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p = 0.002);, those who had covid-19 infection history in the family insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p = 0.043);, those who had COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccine education insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p = 0.001);. Positive attitudes skor and higher knowledge scores were related with highly willingness to be vaccinated. High beliefs score insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(positive beliefs); was found to be associated with a higher willingness to be vaccinated insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p < 0.001);. Conclusions: Although the majority of the study population willingness to be vaccinated, one-third of medical students are hesitant about vaccination. Education, positive attitude and beliefs are related to higher willingness to vaccination.The COVID-19 pandemic immunization programs should be designed to remove barriers to negative vaccine beliefs and perception.
Keywords : COVID 19 Vaccines, medical students, vaccination awareness, perception, beliefs