ABSTRACT
Background: Various COVID-19 vaccines with proven safety and effectiveness are available now but vaccine hesitancy remains a public threat. COVID-19 vaccines uptake appears to have an essential role in the successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: To examine predictors of COVID-19 vaccination uptake and reasons for decline of vaccination. Methods: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines for this systematic review. We searched Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, CINAHL, and a preprint service (medRxiv). We used the following key-words: vaccin·, COVID-19, and uptake. We included all types of studies (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods) reporting COVID-19 vaccination uptake. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021267460). Results: Twelve studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. COVID-19 vaccination uptake ranged from 28.6% to 98% in the general population, while among healthcare workers ranged from 33.3% to 94.5%, and among patients ranged from 36% to 80%. The main predictors of COVID-19 vaccination uptake were male gender, white race, older age, higher socioeconomic status, higher self-perceived COVID-19 vulnerability, increased information about COVID-19 vaccines, and chronic illness. The most important reasons for decline of vaccination were concerns about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, illness, medication, pregnancy, fertility, breastfeeding, religious reasons, ethical reasons, previous COVID-19 diagnosis, self-estimation that COVID-19 is not a severe disease, and limited knowledge about the vaccines. Conclusions: Several factors affect COVID-19 vaccination uptake, while various reasons affect people's decision to refuse to take a COVID-19 vaccine. These findings are essential to further enhance our understanding of COVID-19 vaccination uptake and design specific interventions. Given the high prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, our findings have major implications for the delivery of COVID-19 vaccination programmes in the public with special attention to people who are undecided or unlikely to take a COVID-19 vaccine.
ABSTRACT
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, several instruments were developed to measure the psychological impact of COVID-19, such as fear, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, phobia, etc. Objective: To adapt cross-cultural and validate the "COVID Stress Scales" in Greek. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 200 participants between November 2021 to February 2022. All participants were adults, and a convenience sample was obtained. We applied the forward-backward translation method to create a Greek version of the "COVID Stress Scales". We assessed reliability of the questionnaire with test-retest method in a 10-day window, and we assessed validity of the questionnaire with exploratory factor analysis. Results: Our five-factor model explained 72% of the variance and totally confirmed the factors of the initial "COVID Stress Scales". In particular, we found the following five factors: (a) COVID-19 danger and contamination (eleven items), (b) COVID-19 socioeconomic consequences (six items), (c) COVID-19 xenophobia (six items), (d) COVID-19 traumatic stress (six items), and (e) COVID-19 compulsive checking (six items). Cronbach's coefficients alpha for the five factors that emerged from the exploratory factor analysis were greater than 0.89 indicating an excellent internal reliability. Conclusions: We found that the "COVID Stress Scales" is a reliable and valid tool to measure stress due to the COVID-19 in the Greek population.
ABSTRACT
Background: Accurate measurement of individuals' attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and pandemic is critical to understand the way that people respond during a major crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: Development and validation of a questionnaire assessing attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination Methods: We performed a reliability and validity study in a sample of the general population in Greece. Data were collected online through social media between 15 August and 7 September 2021. Thus, a convenience sample was obtained. Reliability and validity of the questionnaire were assessed with a Delphi study, an exploratory factor analysis, and a test-retest study. Also, we calculated Cronbach's coefficient alpha for the factors that emerged from the exploratory factor analysis. Results: The final study included 1959 adults from the general population in Greece. Our four-factor model explained 73% of the variance and confirmed out initial hypothesis regarding the factors of the questionnaire. In particular, we found the following four factors: (a) fear against the COVID-19 (five items), (b) information regarding the COVID-19 (two items), (c) compliance with hygiene measures (two items), and (d) trust in COVID-19 vaccination (seven items). Cronbach's coefficients alpha for the four factors that emerged from the exploratory factor analysis were greater than 0.82. Pearson's correlation coefficients for the 16 items and the four factors were greater than 0.67 (p-value<0.001 in all cases). Conclusions: The developmend of a reliable and valid questionnaire measuring attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and pandemic. Further studies are needed to expand our knowledge and infer more valid results.
ABSTRACT
Background: Accurate measurement of individuals' attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and pandemic is critical to understand the way that people respond during a major crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and pandemic Methods: A reliability and validity study was performed in convenience sample of the population in Greece. Data were collected online through social media between 15 August and 7 September 2021. Reliability and validity of the questionnaire were assessed with a Delphi study, an exploratory factor analysis, and a testretest study. Also, we calculated Cronbach's coefficient alpha for the factors that emerged from the exploratory factor analysis. Results: 1959 people included in the study, adults from the population in Greece. Our four-factor model explained 73% of the variance and confirmed out initial hypothesis regarding the factors of the questionnaire. In particular, we found four factors: (a) fear against the COVID-19 (five items), (b) information regarding the COVID-19 (two items), (c) compliance with hygiene measures (two items), and (d) trust in COVID-19 vaccination (seven items). Cronbach's coefficients alpha for the four factors that emerged from the exploratory factor analysis were greater than 0.82. Pearson's correlation coefficients for the 16 items and the four factors were greater than 0.67 (p-value<0.001 in all cases). Conclusions: A reliable and valid questionnaire was developed to measure attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and pandemic. Further studies are neded to expand our knowledge and infer more valid results.
ABSTRACT
Background: Mobile COVID-19 testing units are used worldwide to test quickly and easily individuals for COVID- 19. Aim: To assess the level of fear of COVID-19 among nurses in mobile COVID-19 testing units and compare it with demographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during November and December 2020. Study population included 57 nurses working in mobile COVID-19 testing units in Attica, Greece. We collected demographic data from the nurses, i.e. gender, age, marital status, children, living status (alone or with others), clinical experience, and chronic disease. We used the fear of COVID-19 scale to measure fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The mean score on the fear of COVID-19 scale was 14.3. Among nurses, 31.6% experienced elevated fear indicative of presence of anxiety symptoms, while the respective percentages for health anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptomatology were 22.8% and 17.5%. Fear of COVID-19 was not affected by demographic variables. However, fear was higher in females, nurses who had children and nurses who lived with others. Increased clinical experience was related with decreased fear. Conclusions: Creating a secure work environment for nurses in these units could decrease fear of COVID-19 and increase work performance.