Alobaidi Sami, Hashim Almoutaz
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia.
Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Jun 21;10(7):987. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10070987.
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic is still continuing throughout the world, with newer genetic variants regularly appearing from different parts of the world. Considering the waning of immunity against COVID-19 infection even with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, regulatory authorities have authorised booster COVID-19 vaccination in many countries, especially for vulnerable populations, including healthcare workers. The current study analysed factors predicting the third (booster) dose of COVID-19 vaccine intention, including the health belief model (HBM), among the healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional online survey performed from 1st October 2021 to 30th November 2021, using a questionnaire prepared in GoogleTM form among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire asked demographic factors, COVID-19 experience of participants, subjective assessment of health, intention of COVID-19 booster dose vaccination, preferences for local/foreign-made vaccines, and health belief of the study population related to COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 booster dose. Results: This study received 2059 complete responses. The study population reported mixed health belief with respect to the susceptibility of COVID-19 infection, and higher health belief perception regarding the severity. The perceptions of the study participants regarding the benefits of COVID-19 booster dose were positive. There were few barriers to COVID-19 booster dose expressed by study participants. A total of 1464 (71.1%) study participants reported positive intent for receiving a COVID-19 booster dose. The study showed significant association between definite intention to receive a booster dose and nationality (p = 0.001), marital status (p = 0.017), gender (p < 0.001), education level (p = 0.001), monthly income (p < 0.001), and co-morbid medical illness (p = 0.045). The perception of the COVID-19 booster vaccine as a good idea to minimise worries about getting COVID-19 (OR = 2.28, CI 1.89−2.76), and perceptions that receiving the third (booster) dose reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection and associated complications (OR= 2.69, CI = 2.17−3.34), of the perceived benefit construct of HBM, predicted significantly higher definite intention to receive a booster dose. The concern with the safety of the vaccine (OR= 0.40, CI 0.34−0.47) under the perceived barriers construct of HBM predicted as significantly higher no definite intention to receive a booster dose. Conclusions: The results of the present study can guide policy makers in their efforts to promote booster doses of COVID-19 vaccination among the healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia.
新冠疫情仍在全球持续，世界各地不断出现新的基因变异毒株。鉴于即便接种两剂新冠疫苗后针对新冠感染的免疫力也在减弱，许多国家的监管机构已批准开展新冠疫苗加强针接种，尤其是针对包括医护人员在内的弱势群体。本研究分析了沙特阿拉伯医护人员中预测新冠疫苗第三剂（加强针）接种意愿的因素，包括健康信念模型（HBM）。方法：本研究为一项横断面在线调查，于2021年10月1日至2021年11月30日进行，采用在谷歌表格中编制的问卷对沙特阿拉伯的医护人员进行调查。问卷询问了人口统计学因素、参与者的新冠经历、健康主观评估、新冠加强针接种意愿、对国产/进口疫苗的偏好，以及研究人群对新冠感染和新冠加强针的健康信念。结果：本研究共收到2059份完整回复。研究人群对新冠感染易感性的健康信念不一，但对严重性的健康信念认知较高。研究参与者对新冠加强针益处的认知是积极的。研究参与者表示的新冠加强针接种障碍较少。共有1464名（71.1%）研究参与者报告有接种新冠加强针的积极意愿。研究表明，接种加强针的明确意愿与国籍（p = 0.001）、婚姻状况（p = 0.017）、性别（p < 0.001）、教育水平（p = 0.001）、月收入（p < 0.001）以及合并症（p = 0.045）之间存在显著关联。将新冠加强针疫苗视为减少对感染新冠担忧的好办法的认知（OR = 2.28，CI 1.89−2.76），以及认为接种第三剂（加强针）可降低新冠感染及相关并发症风险的认知（OR = 2.69，CI = 2.17−3.34），在健康信念模型的感知益处结构中，显著预测了更高的接种加强针明确意愿。在健康信念模型的感知障碍结构下，对疫苗安全性的担忧（OR = 0.40，CI 0.34−0.47）显著预测了更低的接种加强针明确意愿。结论：本研究结果可为政策制定者努力推动沙特阿拉伯医护人员接种新冠疫苗加强针提供指导。
