Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy Students
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Ethical Approval
2.2. Study Design
2.3. Study Population
2.4. Data Collection
2.5. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Demographics of the Students, Pharmacy (P) and Non-Pharmacy (NP)
3.2. Sources of Information and Vaccine Preferences among Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy Students
3.3. Assessment of Student’s Knowledge, P and NP, about COVID-19 Vaccine Information
3.4. Assessment of Attitudes and Perception of Students, Pharmacy vs. Non-Pharmacy
3.5. Assessment of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Barriers among Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy Students
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Characteristics | Pharmacy Students, n = 375 (%) | Non-Pharmacy Students, n = 225 (%) | p Values |
---|---|---|---|
Age ≤18 19–24 ≥25 | 60 (16) 305 (81.3) 10 (2.7) | 41 (18.2) 164 (72.9) 20 (8.9) | 0.02 * |
Gender Male Female | 120 (32) 225 (68) | 112 (49.8) 113 (50.2) | 0.001 ** |
Marital Status Married Unmarried | 23 (6.1) 352 (93.9) | 28 (12.4) 197 (87.6) | 0.07 |
Area of Residence Urban Rural | 305 (81.3) 70 (18.7) | 171 (76.0) 54 (24.0) | 0.118 |
Socioeconomic Status Lower Middle Upper | 12 (3.2) 343 (91.5) 20 (5.3) | 4 (1.8) 206 (91.6) 15 (6.7) | 0.473 |
Overall, Health Good Fair Poor | 239 (63.7) 124 (33.1) 12 (3.2) | 135 (60.0) 83 (36.9) 7 (3.1) | 0.633 |
Parameters | Pharmacy Students, n = 375 (%) | Non-Pharmacy Students, n = 225 (%) | p Values |
---|---|---|---|
Sources of Information Social media News channels Govt. Authorities Family/friends | 167 (44.5) 40 (10.7) 99 (26.4) 69 (18.4) | 84 (37.3) 44 (19.4) 55 (24.4) 42 (18.7) | 0.019 * |
Vaccine Preferences Pfizer AstraZeneca Sputnik Sinovac Sinopharm Moderna | 180 (48) 11 (2.9) 7 (1.9) 76 (20.3) 75 (20) 26 (6.9) | 72 (32) 12 (5.3) 4 (1.8) 52 (23.1) 62 (27.6) 23 (10.2) | 0.005 * |
Questions | Pharmacy Students, n = 375 (%) | Non-Pharmacy Students, n = 225 (%) | p Value |
---|---|---|---|
COVID-19 is a Viral disease. Correct Incorrect | 373 (99.5) 2 (0.5) | 218 (96.9) 7 (3.1) | 0.012 * |
COVID-19 Vaccine can reduce the spread of disease in the community Correct Incorrect | 338 (90.1) 37 (9.9) | 186 (82.7) 39 (17.3) | 0.008 * |
COVID-19 Vaccine can help reduce the severity of COVID-19 disease symptoms Correct Incorrect | 338 (90.1) 37 (9.9) | 199 (88.4) 26 (11.6) | 0.514 |
COVID-19 Vaccine can cure COVID-19 Disease Correct Incorrect | 174 (46.4) 201 (53.6) | 106 (47.1) 119 (52.9) | 0.866 |
Antibiotics are alternative to the COVID-19 Vaccine Correct Incorrect | 87 (23.2) 288 (76.8) | 80 (35.6) 145 (64.4) | 0.001 ** |
Everyone including children can receive the COVID-19 Vaccine Correct Incorrect | 269 (71.7) 106 (28.3) | 161 (71.6) 64 (28.4) | 0.963 |
After getting the COVID-19 Vaccine I don’t need to follow preventive measures Correct Incorrect | 45 (12) 330 (88) | 43 (19.1) 182 (80.9) | 0.017 * |
Vaccination process in Pakistan is simple—register via SMS from cell phone Correct Incorrect | 340 (90.7) 35 (9.3) | 197 (87.6) 28 (12.4) | 0.229 |
COVID-19 vaccine can also protect from Influenza Correct Incorrect | 119 (31.7) 256 (68.3) | 64 (28.4) 161 (71.6) | 0.397 |
There is more than one dose(s) of the Vaccine Correct Incorrect | 353 (94.1) 22 (5.9) | 195 (86.7) 30 (13.3) | 0.002 * |
Vaccination increases the chances of auto-immune diseases Correct Incorrect | 127 (33.9) 248 (66.1) | 104 (46.2) 121 (53.8) | 0.003 * |
There is only ONE type of COVID-19 vaccine available in Pakistan Correct Incorrect | 40 (10.7) 335 (89.3) | 36 (16) 189 (84) | 0.057 |
COVID-19 vaccine stimulates our immune system to produce antibodies against the COVID-19 virus Correct Incorrect | 340 (90.7) 35 (9.3) | 180 (80) 45 (20) | 0.0001 ** |
Attitudes & Perception Questions | Pharmacy Students, n = 375 (%) | Non-Pharmacy Students, n = 225 (%) | p Values |
---|---|---|---|
If I already had COVID-19 infection I don’t need a vaccine | 2.47 ± 1.28 | 2.51 ± 1.41 | 0.747 |
Due to its emergent approval, its efficacy and safety cannot be trusted | 3.09 ± 1.05 | 3.06 ± 1.07 | 0.707 |
One might get COVID-19 disease due to the COVID-19 vaccine | 2.73 ± 1.19 | 2.80 ± 1.25 | 0.523 |
COVID-19 can cause serious side effects | 3.13 ± 1.15 | 3.30 ± 1.16 | 0.080 |
Current COVID-19 vaccines do not protect against new COVID variants | 3.15 ± 1.06 | 3.32 ± 1.08 | 0.067 |
Children didn’t get severe disease symptoms, so they don’t need the COVID-19 vaccine | 2.54 ± 1.04 | 2.50 ± 1.29 | 0.706 |
COVID-19 vaccines were made using fetal tissues | 2.74 ± 1.04 | 3.04 ± 0.98 | 0.00046 ** |
One does not need two doses of COVID-19 vaccines | 2.31 ± 1.12 | 2.32 ± 1.21 | 0.863 |
COVID-19 Vaccine was developed with or contains controversial substances | 2.74 ± 1.09 | 2.98 ± 1.08 | 0.011 * |
Life will get normal after vaccination | 3.17 ± 1.07 | 2.94 ± 1.19 | 0.018 * |
Only old or people with underlying diseases should get the COVID-19 Vaccine | 2.25 ± 1.12 | 2.33 ± 1.15 | 0.437 |
COVID-19 Vaccine causes Infertility | 2.33 ± 1.10 | 2.63 ± 1.18 | 0.002 * |
COVID-19 Vaccine contains 5G Nano chips to contain people | 2.25 ± 1.13 | 2.48 ± 1.29 | 0.023 * |
Proper protocol wasn’t followed for the development of the COVID-19 vaccine | 2.83 ± 1.15 | 3.01 ± 1.12 | 0.059 |
COVID-19 Vaccine is a business strategy for Big Pharmaceutical Companies | 2.89 ± 1.24 | 2.85 ± 1.16 | 0.678 |
COVID-19 Vaccine changes your DNA | 2.27 ± 1.13 | 2.4 ± 1.22 | 0.196 |
Vaccines should be administered free of charge | 4.128 ± 0.99 | 4.11 ± 1.00 | 0.882 |
COVID-19 vaccine can also protect against influenza infection | 3.00 ± 1.07 | 3.10 ± 2.28 | 0.773 |
Acceptance Questions | Pharmacy Students, n = 375 (%) | Non-Pharmacy Students, n = 225 (%) | p Values |
---|---|---|---|
I don’t need a vaccine as I am Healthy and Young | 2.29 ± 1.27 | 2.35 ± 1.31 | 0.568 |
Government promote vaccination for political & financial gains | 2.80 ± 1.20 | 2.87 ± 1.21 | 0.476 |
I believe that COVID-19 is not a real disease | 2.02 ± 1.07 | 2.14 ± 1.13 | 0.196 |
I believe that vaccination affects natural immunity | 2.83 ± 1.20 | 2.94 ± 1.10 | 0.289 |
I do not trust Pakistan’s health system | 3.18 ± 1.28 | 3.46 ± 1.21 | 0.011 * |
Death is inevitable and the vaccine cannot prevent it | 3.17 ± 1.35 | 3.33 ± 1.30 | 0.139 |
My religion does not permit me to get vaccine | 2.12 ± 1.13 | 2.28 ± 1.22 | 0.108 |
Lack of access to vaccination centers | 2.63 ± 1.11 | 2.76 ± 1.26 | 0.169 |
Vaccine storage is not proper in Pakistan | 2.94 ± 1.21 | 3.19 ± 1.07 | 0.013 * |
Vaccines in Pakistan are donations that’s why not effective and safe | 2.61 ± 1.10 | 2.74 ± 1.10 | 0.177 |
It is against my Morals and Beliefs to get Vaccinated | 2.09 ± 1.05 | 2.11 ± 1.10 | 0.822 |
I feel insecure about the Vaccines offered by the Health Authorities | 2.58 ± 1.17 | 2.68 ± 1.22 | 0.332 |
I am afraid of needles/Injections | 2.46 ± 1.27 | 2.78 ± 1.35 | 0.004 * |
I am afraid that I will contract COVID-19 at the vaccination center | 2.68 ± 1.13 | 2.92 ± 1.10 | 0.012 * |
I am concerned about the efficacy and side effects caused by the COVID-19 Vaccine | 3.14 ± 1.14 | 3.08 ± 1.05 | 0.558 |
I don’t need the vaccine because I follow preventive measures | 2.29 ± 1.09 | 2.40 ± 1.16 | 0.245 |
I don’t believe that the vaccine will stop the COVID-19 disease | 2.55 ± 1.08 | 2.77 ± 1.12 | 0.020 * |
I am waiting for more people to get vaccinated | 3.10 ± 1.31 | 3.05 ± 1.34 | 0.634 |
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Saeed, H.; Ali, K.; Nabeel, M.; Rasool, M.F.; Islam, M.; Hashmi, F.K.; Saeed, A.; Saleem, Z. Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy Students. Vaccines 2023, 11, 176. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11010176
Saeed H, Ali K, Nabeel M, Rasool MF, Islam M, Hashmi FK, Saeed A, Saleem Z. Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy Students. Vaccines. 2023; 11(1):176. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11010176
Chicago/Turabian StyleSaeed, Hamid, Khubaib Ali, Muhammad Nabeel, Muhammad Fawad Rasool, Muhammad Islam, Furqan Khurshid Hashmi, Amna Saeed, and Zikria Saleem. 2023. "Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy Students" Vaccines 11, no. 1: 176. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11010176
APA StyleSaeed, H., Ali, K., Nabeel, M., Rasool, M. F., Islam, M., Hashmi, F. K., Saeed, A., & Saleem, Z. (2023). Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy Students. Vaccines, 11(1), 176. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11010176