COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused largescale morbidity and mortality and a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. Healthcare workers (HCWs) require adequate protection to avoid onward transmission and minimize burden on the healthcare system. Moreover, HCWs can also influence the general public into accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, determining COVID-19 vaccine intention among HCWs is of paramount importance to plan tailor-made public health strategies to maximize vaccine coverage. A structured questionnaire was administered in February and March 2021 among HCWs in Saudi Arabia using convenience sampling, proceeding the launch of the vaccination campaign. HCWs from all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia were included in the study. In total, 674 out of 1124 HCWs responded and completed the survey (response rate 59.9%). About 65 percent of the HCWs intended to get vaccinated. The intention to vaccinate was significantly higher among HCWs 50 years of age or older, Saudi nationals and those who followed the updates about COVID-19 vaccines (p < 0.05). The high percentage (26 percent) of those who were undecided in getting vaccinated is a positive sign. As the vaccination campaign gathers pace, the attitude is expected to change over time. Emphasis should be on planning healthcare strategies to convince the undecided HCWs into accepting the vaccine in order to achieve the coverage required to achieve herd immunity.

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Acceptability of a COVID-19 Vaccine Among Healthcare Workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.644300 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Ameerah M. N. Qattan ◽

Noor Alshareef ◽

Omar Alsharqi ◽

Naseem Al Rahahleh ◽

Gowokani Chijere Chirwa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Chi Squared ◽

Health Related

Objective: This study aims to determine the acceptability of a COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia and the factors affecting their intention to accept the vaccine.Methods: The study used data from an online cross-sectional survey that was conducted in Saudi Arabia between 8 December 2020 and 14 December 2020. This study employed bivariate and multivariable regression analyses. The bivariate was used to describe and tabulate the frequency of all the variables, including the sociodemographic characteristics, the risk perception and the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination and a chi-squared test of independence was calculated. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to examine and identify the factors associated with an intention to have the COVID-19 vaccination and the factors associated with its immediate acceptance.Results: Of the total of 736 healthcare workers who began the online questionnaire, 673 completed it (a 91.44% completion rate). Among the study participants, 50.52% were willing to have the COVID-19 vaccine, of which 49.71% intended to have the vaccine as soon as it becomes available in the country, while 50.29% would delay until the vaccine's safety is confirmed. Being a male healthcare worker, perceiving a high risk of infection, and believing that the COVID-19 vaccine should be compulsory for all citizens and residents in the country increased the probability of intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 and the probability of accepting the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.Conclusion: This study calls for more health-related education among healthcare workers to alleviate any fears that might be associated with the COVID-19 vaccine.

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Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among staff at primary healthcare institutions in Prishtina

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-022-07038-6 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rrezart Halili ◽

Jeta Bunjaku ◽

Bujar Gashi ◽

Teuta Hoxha ◽

Agron Kamberi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Healthcare ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Herd Immunity ◽

Family Members ◽

Control Measures ◽

Capital City ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Pcr Test

Abstract Background Many studies examined the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within populations using seroprevalence. Healthcare workers are a high-risk population due to patient contact, and studies are needed to examine seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers. Our study investigates the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among staff at primary healthcare institutions in Prishtina, and factors associated with seroprevalence. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional survey including SARS-CoV-2 serological testing and questionnaires with primary healthcare workers from primary healthcare facilities in the Prishtina, the capital city of Kosovo. We calculated prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and of self-reported positive PCR test among primary healthcare workers, as well as crude and adjusted ORs for explanatory factors. Results Eighty-three of the healthcare workers (17.47%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies IgG or IgM, while 231 (48.63%) either had antibodies or a previous positive PCR test. Odds of seropositivity were affected by male gender (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.20, 3.61), and infected family members (OR 3.61, 95% CI 2.25, 5.79) of healthcare workers. Higher education, being part of larger families and having infected family members gave higher odds of positive PCR test and seropositivity. Other healthcare workers had lower odds of positive PCR test and seropositivity than physicians. Conclusion Over 17% of healthcare workers were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and close to half of them were either seropositive or PCR self-reported positive test. Several factors are associated with decreased and increased odds for such outcomes. These findings should be explored further and addressed to Kosovo policy makers, and assist them to intensify vaccination efforts, and maintain control measures until we achieve herd immunity.

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Hand Hygiene Knowledge and Perception among the Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9121627 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1627

Author(s):

Adil Abalkhail ◽

Ilias Mahmud ◽

Fahad A. Alhumaydhi ◽

Thamer Alslamah ◽

Ameen S. S. Alwashmi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Hand Hygiene ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Primary Source ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

World Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Government ◽

Health Organization

Hand hygiene is among the most important factors of infection control in healthcare settings. Healthcare workers are the primary source of hospital-acquired infection. We assessed the current state of hand hygiene knowledge, perception, and practice among the healthcare workers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, we used the hand hygiene knowledge and perception questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization. Knowledge and perceptions were classified into good (80–100%), moderate (60–79%), and poor (<60% score). The majority of the healthcare workers had moderate knowledge (57.8%) and perception (73.4%) of hand hygiene. Males were less likely to have moderate/good knowledge compared to females (OR: 0.52, p < 0.05). Private healthcare workers were less likely (OR: 0.33, p < 0.01) to have moderate/good perceptions compared to the government healthcare workers. Healthcare workers who received training on hand hygiene were more likely to have good/moderate perception (OR: 3.2, p < 0.05) and to routinely use alcohol-based hand rubs (OR: 3.8, p < 0.05) than the ones without such training. Physicians are more likely (OR: 4.9, p < 0.05) to routinely use alcohol-based hand rubs than technicians. Our research highlighted gaps in hand hygiene knowledge, perception and practice among healthcare workers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia and the importance of training in this regard.

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Attitudes towards Anti-SARS-CoV2 Vaccination among Healthcare Workers: Results from a National Survey in Italy

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13030371 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 371 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Francesco Di Gennaro ◽

Rita Murri ◽

Francesco Vladimiro Segala ◽

Lorenzo Cerruti ◽

Amina Abdulle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Information Quality ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

Close Contact ◽

Information Source ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Healthcare Personnel ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has afflicted tens of millions of people, fostering and unprecedent effort in vaccine development and distribution. Healthcare workers (HCW) play a key role in vaccine promotion and patient guidance, and it is likely that hesitancy among this population will have a major impact on the adoption of a successful immunization policy. To investigate HCW attitudes towards anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccination, we developed an anonymous online cross-sectional survey. 1723 Italian HCW responded. Overall, 1155 (67%) intended to be vaccinated, while 443 (26%) were not sure and 125 (7%) declared refusal. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with hesitancy were using Facebook as the main information source and being a non-physician HCW, while predictors of acceptance included younger age, being in close contact with high-risk groups and having received flu vaccination during the 2019–2020 season. Reasons for hesitancy included lack of trust in vaccine safety (85%) and receiving little (78%) or conflicting (69%) information about vaccines. According to our results, adequate investment in vaccine education for healthcare personnel appears to be urgently needed, prioritizing non-physicians and information quality spread through social media. We hope that our data could help governments and policy-makers to target communication in the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

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Work-life balance behaviours cluster in work settings and relate to burnout and safety culture: a cross-sectional survey analysis

BMJ Quality & Safety ◽

10.1136/bmjqs-2018-007933 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 142-150 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Stephanie P Schwartz ◽

Kathryn C Adair ◽

Jonathan Bae ◽

Kyle J Rehder ◽

Tait D Shanafelt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare System ◽

Safety Culture ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Work Life ◽

Work Setting ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Life Balance ◽

Work Settings ◽

Climate Scale

BackgroundHealthcare is approaching a tipping point as burnout and dissatisfaction with work-life integration (WLI) in healthcare workers continue to increase. A scale evaluating common behaviours as actionable examples of WLI was introduced to measure work-life balance.Objectives(1) Explore differences in WLI behaviours by role, specialty and other respondent demographics in a large healthcare system. (2) Evaluate the psychometric properties of the work-life climate scale, and the extent to which it acts like a climate, or group-level norm when used at the work setting level. (3) Explore associations between work-life climate and other healthcare climates including teamwork, safety and burnout.MethodsCross-sectional survey study completed in 2016 of US healthcare workers within a large academic healthcare system.Results10 627 of 13 040 eligible healthcare workers across 440 work settings within seven entities of a large healthcare system (81% response rate) completed the routine safety culture survey. The overall work-life climate scale internal consistency was α=0.830. WLI varied significantly among healthcare worker role, length of time in specialty and work setting. Random effects analyses of variance for the work-life climate scale revealed significant between-work setting and within-work setting variance and intraclass correlations reflected clustering at the work setting level. T-tests of top versus bottom WLI quartile work settings revealed that positive work-life climate was associated with better teamwork and safety climates, as well as lower personal burnout and burnout climate (p<0.001).ConclusionProblems with WLI are common in healthcare workers and differ significantly based on position and time in specialty. Although typically thought of as an individual difference variable, WLI appears to operate as a climate, and is consistently associated with better safety culture norms.

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Predictors of adherence to influenza vaccination for healthcare workers from a teaching hospital: a study in the prepandemic era

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/s0037-86822010000600001 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 43 (6) ◽

pp. 611-614 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ricardo de Souza Cavalcante ◽

Aline Maia Zambonatto Jorge ◽

Carlos Magno Castelo Branco Fortaleza

Keyword(s):

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Teaching Hospital ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Influenza A ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

The Impact ◽

Predictors Of Adherence

INTRODUCTION: Even before the 2009 pandemics, influenza in healthcare workers (HCW) was a known threat to patient safety, while Influenza vaccine coverage in the same group was generally low. Identification of predictors for HCW adherence to Influenza vaccination has challenged infection control committees. METHODS: Our group conducted a cross-sectional survey in December 2007, interviewing 125 HCWs from a teaching hospital to identify adherence predictors for Influenza vaccination. The outcomes of interest were: A - adherence to the 2007 vaccination campaign; B - adherence to at least three yearly campaigns in the past five years. Demographic and professional data were assessed through univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of the HCWs interviewed, 43.2% were vaccinated against Influenza in 2007. However, only 34.3% of HCWs working in healthcare for more than five years had adhered to at least three of the last five vaccination campaigns. Multivariate analysis showed that working in a pediatric unit (OR = 7.35, 95%CI = 1.90-28.44, p = 0.004) and number of years in the job (OR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.00-1.74, p = 0.049) were significant predictors of adherence to the 2007 campaign. Physicians returned the worst outcome performances in A (OR = 0.40, 95%CI = 0.16-0.97, p = 0.04) and B (OR = 0.17, 95%CI = 0.05-0.60, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to improve adherence to Influenza vaccination should focus on physicians and newly-recruited HCWs. New studies are required to assess the impact of the recent Influenza A pandemics on HCW-directed immunization policies.

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Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among the Saudi Arabian Population: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9080892 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 892

Author(s):

Mohammed Noushad ◽

Mohammad Zakaria Nassani ◽

Pradeep Koppolu ◽

Anas B. Alsalhani ◽

Abdulaziz Samran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Systemic Disease ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Saudi Arabian ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Effective Strategies ◽

Mass Immunization ◽

Arabian Population

The long-term solution to managing the current COVID-19 pandemic is through mass immunization of the population. However, uncertainty or unwillingness to receive the vaccine could be a barrier in attaining sufficient vaccine coverage. Therefore, understanding the psychology of the population towards the vaccines against COVID-19 is of paramount importance. Our study was aimed at determining the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine intention in the Saudi Arabian population. A structured questionnaire guided by the ‘Report of the SAGE working group on vaccine hesitancy’ was administered during a span of two months among the general population from all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia, proceeding the launch of the vaccination campaign. In total, 879 out of 1600 subjects responded and completed the survey (response rate 54.9%). About 56 percent of the participants intended to be vaccinated. The predictors of a higher intention to vaccinate included those 50 years of age or older, male subjects, people suffering from systemic disease/s, subjects who were not previously infected with COVID-19, those who follow the updates about COVID-19 vaccines, and adults with a higher level of anxiety about contracting coronavirus (p < 0.05). Results from our study and other similar studies can aid policy makers and stakeholders in planning effective strategies based on the changing behavior of the population.

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Factors Associated with the Acceptance and Willingness of COVID-19 Vaccination among Chinese Healthcare Workers

10.1101/2021.05.15.21257094 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xinxin Ye ◽

Wan Ye ◽

Jinyue Yu ◽

Yuzhen Gao ◽

Ziyang Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Vaccination Rates ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Government

Background: Vaccination is a crucial measure in preventing the spread of epidemic. Vaccines targeting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been developed in a wide range of countries. Objective: This study aims to examine factors influencing vaccination rate and willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 among Chinese healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: From 3rd February to 18th February, 2021, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted among HCWs to investigate factors associated with the acceptance and willingness of COVID-19 vaccination. Respondents were classified into two categories, vaccinated and unvaccinated, and, the willingness of vaccination was assessed in the unvaccinated group. Information on socio-demographics and the psychological process of the participants for accepting the vaccine were evaluated. Results: A total of 2156 HCWs from 21 provinces in China responded to this survey (response rate: 98.99%)), among whom 1433 (66.5%) were vaccinated at least one dose. Higher vaccination rates were associated with older age (40-50 years vs. less than 30 years, OR=1.63, 95%CI: 1.02-2.58; >50 years vs. 30 years, OR=1.90, 95%CI: 1.02-3.52), working as a clinician (OR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.05-2.27), having no personal religion (OR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.06-1.71), working in a fever clinic (OR=4.50 , 95%CI:1.54-13.17) or higher hospital level(Municipal vs. County, OR=2.01, 95%CI: 1.28-3.16; Provincial vs. County, OR=2.01, 95%CI: 1.25-3.22) and having knowledge training of vaccine (OR=1.67, 95%CI:1.27-2.22), family history for influenza vaccination (OR=1.887, 95%CI:1.49-2.35) and strong familiarity with the vaccine (OR=1.43, 95%CI:1.05-1.95) (All P<0.05). Strong willingness for vaccination was related to having a working in midwestern China (OR=1.89, 95%CI:1.24-2.89), considerable knowledge of the vaccine (familiar vs. not familiar, OR=1.67, 95%CI: 1.17-2.39; strongly familiar vs. not familiar, OR=2.47, 95%CI: 1.36-4.49), knowledge training of vaccine(OR=1.61, 95%CI: 1.05-2.48) and strong confidence in the vaccine (OR=3.84 , 95%CI: 2.09-7.07). Conclusion: Personal characteristics, working environments, familiarity and confidence in the vaccine were related to vaccination rates and willingness to get vaccinated among healthcare workers. Results of this study could provide evidence for the government to improve vaccine coverage by addressing vaccine hesitancy in the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergencies.

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Awareness and Preparedness of COVID-19 Outbreak Among Healthcare Workers and Other Residents of South-West Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2020.00482 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Rina Tripathi ◽

Saad S. Alqahtani ◽

Ahmed A. Albarraq ◽

Abdulkarim M. Meraya ◽

Pankaj Tripathi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

South West

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Conditionality of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in European countries

10.1101/2021.06.24.21259453 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Leonardo w Heyerdahl ◽

Muriel Vray ◽

Benedetta Lana ◽

Nastassia Tvardik ◽

Nina Gobat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Herd Immunity ◽

Preventive Measure ◽

Vaccine Safety ◽

Health Campaigns ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Vaccine Acceptance ◽

Public Health Campaigns

The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in recent months offers a powerful preventive measure that may help control SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Nevertheless, long-standing public hesitation around vaccines has heightened public health concerns that vaccine coverage may not achieve desired public health impacts.This cross-sectional survey was conducted online in December 2020 among 7000 respondents (aged 18 to 65) in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine. The survey included open text boxes for fuller explanation of responses. Projected COVID-19 vaccine coverage varied and may not be sufficiently high among certain populations to achieve herd immunity. Overall, 56.9% would accept a COVID-19 vaccine, 19.0% would not, and 24.1% did not know or preferred not to say. By country, between 44% (France) and 66% (Italy) of respondents would accept a COVID-19 vaccine. Respondents expressed conditionality in open responses, voicing concerns about vaccine safety and mistrust of authorities. Public health campaigns must tackle these safety concerns.

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