Impact of corona-phobia on attitudes and acceptance towards COVID-19 vaccine among cancer patients: a single-center study.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 phobia and related factors on attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine in cancer patients. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 300 adult patients using a validated COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S) and related survey to determine the factors affecting vaccine acceptance between May-June 2021. Results: Regarding the COVID-19 vaccine willingness, 86.7% accepted vaccination, 6.3% were hesitant and 7% refused vaccination. Patients that accepted vaccination had significantly higher C19P-S scores in general, and in psychological and psychosomatic subdivisions. Univariate analysis revealed that increased age, being retired, and being married were significantly associated with willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Conclusion: The majority of patients had high 'coronophobia' levels which were associated with increased willingness for the COVID-19 vaccines. Minimizing negative attitudes towards vaccines will most likely be achieved by raising awareness in the cancer population about COVID-19 vaccine.

Plain language summary Cancer patients are considered among the privileged group for the COVID-19 vaccination. The investigators conducted a survey assessing the relationship between 'coronaphobia' and related factors and vaccine acceptance among patients with cancer. A total of 300 patients completed a questionnaire assessing the factors affecting vaccine acceptance. Most (86.7%) patients accepted vaccination and have higher levels of fear against COVID-19, while 7% refused vaccination. Patients who have increased age, are retired and married had a higher tendency to accept vaccination against COVID-19. The main reason for acceptance was the willingness to get protection, whereas the main reason for refusal was the fear of adverse effects.

Awareness and perceptions related to COVID-19 among cancer patients: A survey in oncology department.

INTRODUCTION: Today, COVID-19 pandemic is still the most critical problem in the global health agenda. Since the awareness of the public in general and particularly awareness of those with comorbidities, such as cancer, determine the rate of mortality, the primary goal of this study was to assess the knowledge, perceptions and attitude of the patients with cancer towards the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary objective of this study was also to measure the effect of COVID-19 on cancer patients' ongoing treatments. METHODS: This study recruited 300 oncology patients through an outpatient community-based oncology clinic in one of the 30 major cities of Turkey, which had taken a lockdown at weekends during April 2020. A questionnaire measuring the knowledge, attitudes and preventive behaviour was completed by each patient either face-to-face or through telephone survey. RESULTS: In general, participants had a positive attitude towards protective measures. No delay for current cancer treatments or appointments has been observed in 98% of patients. More than half of the patients(52.3%) were using some kind of nutritional supplement to increase their body resistance. Nearly two-third of patients could not identify the three most common symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, dyspnoea), and half of them were not aware of the routes of transmission (by contact and droplets). It was observed that patients with stage 1 cancer were tend to stay at home, while patients with stage 4 cancer were prone to leave their houses for the hospital at a higher ratio. The rate of people leaving houses was significantly higher for male patients and for patients with a university degree, whereas patients who were older than 65 were tend to go only to the hospital when they leave their houses. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that routine follow-up and guidance for cancer patients seems to provide significant benefit to increase the knowledge and awareness of patients with cancer.