COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy : mobile education initiatives to improve vaccination uptake among healthcare workers
Vaccine hesitancy is a global threat to public health contributed by misinformation and lay beliefs about diseases and health. Our study aimed to assess preparedness and intent to receive COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in a single institution in northwest Malaysia and assess the feasib...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2022
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19675/1/19_ms0582_pdf_68215.pdf http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19675/ https://www.medicineandhealthukm.com/toc/17/1 |
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| Summary: | Vaccine hesitancy is a global threat to public health contributed by misinformation
and lay beliefs about diseases and health. Our study aimed to assess preparedness
and intent to receive COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in a single
institution in northwest Malaysia and assess the feasibility and efficacy of our
mobile education programme to overcome vaccine hesitancy among healthcare
workers. Our initial survey among 1,616 respondents found that 25.3% of
healthcare workers either refused or were hesitant towards COVID-19 vaccination;
238 respondents (58.2%) of which with no absolute clinical contraindication.
Our multifaceted mobile education programme involved: (i) series of continuous
medical education (CMEs) to 72 elected liaison officers, (ii) small scale briefing
session to individual unit and/or department upon request, and (iii) a one-to-one
counselling session upon request. The programme took the course of over four
weeks prior to the actual vaccination drive. Re-assessment of intent to receive
COVID-19 vaccine found a significant reduction of healthcare workers refusing
COVID-19 vaccination without absolute contraindication (25.3% vs. 2.8%). The
most common reasons cited among those who were still hesitant were due to
pregnancy (non-first trimester) and planning to conceive in the near future. Our
study demonstrated the efficacy of physical interaction and teaching session to
allow rapid communication and gives better understanding, particularly when
dealing with myths, misinformation and misconception related to COVID-19
vaccine. |
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