Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey.
Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey.
Rheumatol Int. 2021 Jun;41(6):1105-1114. doi: 10.1007/s00296-021-04841-3. Epub 2021 Mar 29.
Vaccination against COVID-19 emerges as an effective strategy for combating the pandemic. While many of our patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) wonder whether it is safe to get the vaccine, vaccine hesitancy is rising among the general population. We assessed the willingness to get vaccination and its probable predictors among patients with RD compared to healthcare workers and a sample from the general population.
We conducted a web-based questionnaire survey in a cross-sectional design in 3 groups of participants just before the mass vaccination program in Istanbul, Turkey. The questionnaire sought socio-demographic variables, COVID-19 related risk factors, willingness to get vaccination, and concerns and thoughts about vaccine. COVID-19 anxiety scale (CAS) was also evaluated.
We studied in total 732 patients with RD (Group 1), 763 individuals representing general population (Group 2) and 320 hospital workers (Group 3). Dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19 was found in 4.9%, 3.8% and 4.1%, in Group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Of the patients with RD, 29.2% were willing to be vaccinated, 19.0% were unwilling and 51.8% were undecided. These were somewhat similar among the general population (yes: 34.6%, no: 23.3% and unsure: 42.1%), with significantly less undecided individuals (p < 0.001). On the other hand, hospital workers were significantly more willing (yes: 52.5%, no: 20.9% and unsure: 26.6%) (p < 0.001). Main concerns were probable side effects, unknown scientific results and having no trust. Being male, older age, working in a hospital, not having contracted COVID-19 and high scores on CAS were found to be independently associated with willingness.
The low rate of vaccine acceptance among patients with RD, as well as general population sampling is worrying. Healthcare policies should aim to implement communication, promote confidence and increase demand for COVID-19 vaccine.
接种 COVID-19 疫苗是对抗大流行的有效策略。虽然我们许多患有风湿病（RD）的患者想知道接种疫苗是否安全，但普通人群的疫苗犹豫情绪正在上升。我们评估了 RD 患者与医护人员和一般人群样本相比接种疫苗的意愿及其可能的预测因素。
我们在土耳其伊斯坦布尔的大规模疫苗接种计划之前，以横断面设计在 3 组参与者中进行了一项基于网络的问卷调查。问卷旨在了解社会人口统计学变量、与 COVID-19 相关的危险因素、接种疫苗的意愿、对疫苗的担忧和想法。还评估了 COVID-19 焦虑量表（CAS）。
我们共研究了 732 名 RD 患者（第 1 组）、763 名普通人群代表（第 2 组）和 320 名医院工作人员（第 3 组）。第 1、2 和 3 组中，与 COVID-19 相关的功能失调性焦虑分别为 4.9%、3.8%和 4.1%。RD 患者中，29.2%愿意接种疫苗，19.0%不愿意，51.8%犹豫不决。普通人群中也有些类似（是：34.6%，否：23.3%，不确定：42.1%），但犹豫不决的人明显较少（p<0.001）。另一方面，医院工作人员明显更愿意（是：52.5%，否：20.9%，不确定：26.6%）（p<0.001）。主要关注点是可能的副作用、未知的科学结果和缺乏信任。男性、年龄较大、在医院工作、未感染 COVID-19 和 CAS 评分较高与意愿独立相关。
RD 患者以及普通人群样本中疫苗接种率低令人担忧。医疗保健政策应旨在实施沟通、增强信心并增加对 COVID-19 疫苗的需求。
