Investigation of Anxiety Sensitivity Levels of Cancer Patients In Terms of Covid 19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract Introduction: The goal of our research was to look into the perspectives of cancer patients who had not yet been vaccinated, aged from 21 to 88 years old and had applied to Süleyman Demirel University's oncology outpatient clinic in May and June, as well as their anxieties and concerns about vaccination. Methods The goal of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to investigate cancer patients’ perceptions of Covid vaccination. We applied 3 questionnaires, one of them prepared by us, the other two questionnaires were The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) form and Anxiety Sensitivity index to a total of 497 participants. Chi-Square, Spearmen correlation test, multivariable multinomial logistic regression tests were used when comparing. Results Our participants were between the ages of 21 and 88, with a mean age of 61,38 (SD = 11,68). 48,6% (n=251) of all participants were female. We discovered that 79.1% (n=408) of respondents were not afraid of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. 27,7 % (n=143) of this population's respondents were concerned about the COVID-19 vaccine's negative effects and 24,2% (n=125) were afraid of its side effects with their treatments. 91,1% (n=470) of the patients did not know which vaccine they would have and the type of the vaccine. Due to the high level of anxiety in women in general, it was thought that anxiety scores were higher in patients with breast and ovarian cancer, which are important cancers in women during the pandemic period, while anxiety scores were lower in patients with prostate cancer since it was seen in men. Special patient groups should not be neglected during this vaccine season, and their concerns should be addressed. When a new vaccine is found, it can have long-term effects, which should not be ignored.