Acceptability of the COVID-19 Vaccine among Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study of the General Population in the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Alqahtani YS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8777608 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a significant threat to the efforts that have been taken to combat the pandemic. This study assessed the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine among university students in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional online survey using a Google Form was conducted between 2 April and 23 April 2021. A snowball technique was used to recruit participants for this study. The final sample consisted of 407 participants. More than one-third of the participants (36.1%) had received the COVID-19 vaccine, and 13.3% had registered to receive the vaccine. Of the participants who were not yet vaccinated (n = 260), 90.4% indicated that they would like to be vaccinated when given the opportunity. Of the unvaccinated participants, 82.3% trusted the COVID-19 vaccines that had been provided in Saudi Arabia. The most reported reasons for the participants' acceptance to receive the COVID-19 vaccine included preventive purposes (95.8%), a belief in the safety of the vaccines (84.3%), and the availability of public awareness information regarding the vaccines (77.3%). A small portion of participants (6.1%) were refusing to receive the vaccine due to the potential long-term side effects (92.0%) and expedited vaccine trials (80.0%). Acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine was strongly associated with participants who regularly received the flu vaccine (p < 0.05). All other demographic variables were not statistically associated with the acceptability of the COVID-19 vaccine. In conclusion, it would be appropriate for universities to launch peer programs to urge reluctant students to receive the vaccine voluntarily. In terms of further research, it is valuable to follow up with unvaccinated participants to investigate if they received the vaccine since the data were collected, and their reasons for doing so. This research would reveal changes toward vaccine acceptability over time and any related determinants. Future research should consider students from non-Arabic speaking backgrounds.
| S-EPMC8473185 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundCommunication failure is a common cause of adverse events. An essential element of communication among health care providers is patient handoff. Patient handoff is defined as a practice whereby a health care provider transfers a patient's care information to another health care provider to ensure the patient's safety and continuity of care. To explore this practice, we assessed patient handoffs among general surgery residents in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted with individuals in accredited general surgery residency programs in Saudi Arabia between 2020 and 2021.ResultsParticipants comprised 118 general surgery residents: 66 (57.3%) were female; 67 (72.8%) did not receive any formal training on patient handoff; and 35 (38.8%) reported that they were sometimes interrupted during the patient handoff process. The most common reason for such interruptions was medical personnel paging. Furthermore, 60 (68.1%) general surgery residents stated that these interruptions led to a decreased quality of effective communication, 39 (44.3%) believed it led to decreased quality of patient care, 63 (71.5%) believed it led to the loss of some information related to patient handoff, and 16 (18.1%) believed it led to patient harm. Finally, 31 (34.4%) general surgery residents believed that the existing handoff system at their institutions neither adequately protected the patients' safety nor allowed for continuity of care, and 51 (68%) reported that their institution did not have a standardized protocol for the verbal patient handoff process. There was a higher proportion of patients with minor harm among residents who did not, rarely or sometimes received verbal or written hand off instructions compare to those who did so always or most of the time (67% vs. 49%, respectively).ConclusionThe patient handoff process among general surgery residents in Saudi Arabia is subjective and is not standardized, and if not addressed, may lead to patient harm. Standardizing this process is paramount to improve patient safety.
| S-EPMC9389743 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background: The Saudi government had implemented unprecedented preventive measures to deal with COVID-19. These measures included intermittent curfews, bans on public gatherings, limitations on many services, temporary suspension of Hajj, Umrah, and visit and launching awareness campaigns. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the KAP toward COVID-19 among residents of the border region of Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was distributed from May 4 to May 21, 2020, using a Google Form. The survey questionnaire covered demographic characteristics and KAP toward COVID-19. The KAP questions consisted of 17 items on knowledge, four items on attitude, and six items on practice. Results: A total of 597 participants responded to the survey questionnaire. Overall, participants demonstrated a good knowledge of COVID-19, correctly answering 77% of the knowledge questions. Most of the participants exhibited good attitudes and acceptable practices toward COVID-19. Multiple regression analysis revealed that participants with a university education (B = 1.75) or post-graduate education (B = 2.24), those with an income >SR 10,000-20,000 (B = 1.38) or >SR 20,000 (B = 2.07), and those who had received a personal health education (B = 1.19) had higher COVID-19 knowledge scores (p < 0.05). The ordinal logistic regression analysis found that compared to being female, being male was significantly associated with worrying about COVID-19 (p = 0.024, OR = 1.78), willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (p = 0.003, OR = 1.81), and willingness to report potential symptoms of COVID-19 (p = 0.046, OR = 2.28). Worrying about COVID-19 was significantly associated with pre-university education vs. post-graduate education (p ≤ 0.001, OR = 7.94) and university education vs. post-graduate education (p ≤ 0.001, OR = 4.17). The binary logistic regression analysis found that compared to being female, being male was significantly associated with less face mask wearing in public (p = 0.009, OR = 0.31): Females were 3.23 times more likely to wear a face mask than were males. Conclusions: Most of the study participants had good knowledge, positive attitudes, and effective practices toward COVID-19. The findings of this study may help guide future awareness resources to the groups most in need in the Jazan region, particularly as the COVID-19 situation develops and changes. Further assessment should consider the groups omitted from this study, including immigrants and the elderly who have not adopted social media and technology.
| S-EPMC8692766 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, is responsible for a variety of cancers. HPV vaccines can help prevent this infection and its potentially devastating carcinogenic outcomes. Although the incidence of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers among males is increasing, few studies have been published on HPV knowledge and vaccine acceptability among males. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed knowledge about HPV and the vaccine, as well as its acceptability, among third- and fourth-year male medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Respondents were enrolled in any of the medical colleges in Jeddah from February to December 2018. A validated survey was used to collect information on HPV infection and vaccine knowledge and to ask questions assessing vaccine acceptability. HPV knowledge scores were created, and vaccine acceptability predictors were assessed with logistic regression. We collected data from 517 participants. Approximately 74% of the students had heard of HPV, with a mean knowledge score of 5.9 ± 4.6 out of 16; only 42% had heard of the HPV vaccine, with a mean knowledge score of 0.9 ± 1.6 out of 7. Among the respondents, 48.9% were interested in receiving the HPV vaccine. Although HPV infection and vaccine knowledge did not correlate with vaccine acceptability, those who had previously received the hepatitis B vaccine were more interested in receiving the HPV vaccine. In conclusion, male medical students had low HPV knowledge. Improving their HPV knowledge is important, as they are future health-care providers. The promotion of HPV vaccines in this potentially influential group is crucial for achieving effective disease prevention.
| S-EPMC8189128 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe global incidence of fungal infection has increased dramatically over the last two decades. Fungal diseases threaten both immunocompetent, and immunocompromised patients. The current fungal diagnostics status in Saudi Arabia needs to be evaluated, especially with the increase of the immunosuppressed population. This cross-sectional study investigated the gaps in mycological diagnosis on a national level.Materials and methodsThe call interview questionnaire responses were collected to evaluate the demand for fungal assays, diagnostic methods' quality, and mycological expertise of laboratory technologists in both public and private medical intuitions. The data were analyzed using (IBM SPSS ® software version 22.0).ResultsA total of 57 hospitals from all Saudi regions participated in the questionnaire; however, only 32% received or processed mycological samples. Most participants were from the Mecca region (25%), Riyadh region (19%), and Eastern region (14%). The top fungal isolates identified were Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., and dermatophyte. Fungal investigation is highly requested by intensive care, dermatology, and obstetrics and gynecology units. Most laboratories rely on fungal culture and microscopic examination, which mostly identify Candida to the genus level, and use 37°C incubators for culture (67%). Antifungal susceptibility testing (AST) and serological and molecular methods are rarely performed and mostly outsourced. Using accurate identification and AST are the primary factors to improve fungal diagnosis in respect to turnaround time and cost. The three major obstacles identified were availability of facility (47%), reagents and kits (32%), and good training (21%).ConclusionsThe results indicated that fungal diagnosis demand was relatively higher in high-population regions. This study highlighted the gaps in fungal diagnostics reference laboratories to encourage their improvement in Saudi hospitals.
| S-EPMC10332264 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide, and the vaccine remains the ultimate cornerstone to overcoming its long-term impact. Vaccine hesitancy might obstruct the effort to achieve herd immunity and eradicate the virus. We assessed Saudi Arabian individuals' willingness, beliefs, and barriers regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and their adherence to preventive measures during and after the pandemic.MethodsA self-administered electronic validated questionnaire was distributed among the five major regions in Saudi Arabia between November and December 2020. The questionnaire addressed the sociodemographic data, beliefs, potential barriers, parents' acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination for their children, and adherence to protective measures during and after the pandemic.ResultsOf 8,056 participants, 4,218 (52.4%) of a non-representative sample were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Being a young adult, male, having less than a high school degree, being a smoker, having a chronic disease, and having a history of seasonal influenza vaccine uptake were positive predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Hesitant participants reported concerns about vaccine side effects and safety as the main barriers to accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Some refusers (26.1%) declared that they would reconsider vaccination only if the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine were reported by more studies.ConclusionsOur study revealed a promising willingness to accept the vaccine among the population, with positive beliefs and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. However, a considerable proportion of the population was reluctant to accept the vaccine. Thus, publicly providing information about vaccine safety and implementing health education programs is crucial for increasing the public's confidence in the vaccine.
| S-EPMC8674018 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Malnutrition could profoundly affect older adults' oral health and quality of life, whereas oral health might, in turn, impact dietary intake and nutritional status. The present study aimed to investigate the association between general and oral health and nutritional status among older adults attending nutrition clinics at two main medical centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-section study was carried out among adult patients (≥60 years) who attended a geriatric clinic or nutrition clinic at King Khalid University Hospital or King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh. A validated clinician's Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF), Oral Health Impact Profile-5 (OHIP-5), and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) were collected from each participant. A total of 261 participants with a mean age of 72.14 (±8.97) years were recruited. Diabetes (71%) and hypertension (80%) were present in the majority of patients. The overall MNA-SF score was (10 ± 3). Based on the categorization of the MNA-SF score, 65.9% were classified as malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Participants with OHIP-5 scores higher than the median (>5) were more likely to be malnourished than those with scores at or lower than 5 (p < 0). The adjusted odd ratio for the MNA-SF score categories indicated that for a one-unit increase in the total SF-36 score, the odds of the malnourished category are 0.94 times less than the risk of malnutrition and normal nutritional status, with OR 0.97 (95% CI 0.94-0.95). Malnutrition or being at risk of malnutrition is likely associated with poor general and oral health. Healthcare providers need to incorporate dietitians into care plans to promote the nutritional health of older adults.
| S-EPMC10534773 | biostudies-literature
Project description:COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and refusal vary across countries and among different socio-demographic groups. This study investigates hesitancy related to the COVID-19 vaccine and the associated factors in the rural-community-dominated Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study through an online questionnaire was conducted from February to April 2021 to investigate the extent of vaccine hesitancy related to the COVID-19 vaccine and the associated factors in the Jazan region. A Chi-squared test and post hoc analysis were conducted to analyze the statistical significance of the association between variables. Of the 569 participants who completed the online questionnaire, the majority were males (81.5%) and had a university education (72.6%). Of the participants, more than one-third (36.9%) were hesitant to vaccinate. Concern about adverse side effects following vaccination was the most reported reason for vaccine hesitancy (42.6%), followed by beliefs that the vaccine was unsafe or ineffective (15.5%). The data analysis revealed that people who lived in cities in Jazan Province or those who did not have a family history of COVID-19 infection were more likely to be vaccine hesitant. It is more important than ever to develop and implement community-based strategies to address vaccine hesitancy, especially in rural areas.
| S-EPMC10706323 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundVaccines have helped in eradicating many communicable diseases. They are considered major players in preserving children's health. However, concerns about vaccines' ingredients and safety became hot topics globally. With doubt, some parents became hesitant to vaccinate their children. A recent study documented high prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among Saudi parents.ObjectivesThis study aims to explore preparedness of current and future pediatricians to face vaccine hesitancy, a growing public health issue in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis study adopted non-interventional cross-sectional online questionnaire specifically designed to encompass general vaccine hesitancy related questions including Covid-19's vaccines.ResultsThe study recruited 119 participants form three main tertiary centers in Riyadh. Trainees were the majority with pediatric consultants representing 22%. Females were more than half of total participants (53%). Although familiarity with the term "vaccine hesitancy" was common, it was affected by training level. Among participants, 66% heard about it from social media. Furthermore, only 32% received designated training. Knowledge was suboptimal among all levels except for those who received formal training. Despite 80% encountered vaccine hesitancy, only 55% consider it a common public health issue. Attitude toward vaccine hesitant parents was negative among male physicians (odds ratio of 2.3, P value 0.045). Additionally, majority consider it a form of child neglect (95%). In regard to COVID19's vaccine, 31% were reluctant to get vaccinated themselves.ConclusionPediatric workforce in Saudi Arabia commonly encounters vaccine hesitancy. The strong stand against vaccine hesitant parents might affect rapport with families. Sub-optimal knowledge, negative attitude and emerging COVID19 vaccine hesitancy might negatively impact future efforts. Tailored training and innovative educational platforms are essentials to address vaccine hesitancy in Saudi Arabia.
| S-EPMC8384767 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Objective:The aim of this study is to evaluate knowledge of and attitudes toward the lumbar puncture procedure among adults in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia, 2018. Methods:This study used a quantitative cross-sectional evaluation of the responses of adults aged ?18?years from the Saudi Telecom Company database in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia to an online survey between October and December 2018. The questionnaire included questions on knowledge, attitudes, and demography. The questionnaire was pretested and validated (Cronbach's alpha?=?0.701). Results:Of 1500 questionnaires, 1223 (81.5%) were returned and included in the analysis. In the study, 57.7% of the participants were aged 18-25?years, and 58.5% of the participants were females. Only 235 (19.2%) participants had an accepted knowledge level of lumbar puncture. The attitudes of the majority of the participants (n?=?1151, 94%) to lumbar puncture were acceptable. A multivariate logistic regression test revealed a significant association between an acceptable knowledge level and acceptable attitude level (odds ratio?=?2.30, 95% confidence interval?=?1.06-5.66). A significant association was also found with ages over 46?years old (odds ratio?=?12.99, 95% confidence interval?=?4.45-37.9). The attitudes level toward lumbar puncture had a significant negative association among the participants who had a fear of injections in the lumbar region (odds ratio?=?0.46, 95% confidence interval?=?0.3-0.68). Conclusion:There is a lack of appropriate knowledge of the lumbar puncture procedure among the public which predict an unacceptable attitude toward lumbar puncture. Improvements in public education could improve public awareness of the clinical importance/value and complications of lumbar puncture.
| S-EPMC6700881 | biostudies-literature