Ines Cherif|Houyem Khiari|Fahmi Mghirbi|Rym Mallekh|Amel Mézlini|Mohamed Hsaïri
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Tunisian cancer patients in the Salah Azaeiz Institute of Cancer
Institut Salah-Azaïz|Institut Salah-Azaïz|Institut Salah-Azaïz|Institut Salah-Azaïz
abstract background vaccination sarscov2 effective way stop pandemic avoid related deaths covid19 vaccine hesitancy represent major hurdle achieve herd immunity cancer patients constitute prioritized group covid19 vaccination particularly vulnerable severe infection death aim study assess vaccine hesitancy among cancer patients salah azaiez institute sai cancer identify knowledge attitudes associated factors methods cross sectional study conducted among inpatients aged 18 years old month february 2021 participants asked according wellstructured questionnaire knowledge vaccine literacy attitudes towards covid19 vaccine vaccine literacy assed using two scales functional interactivecritical scales global score calculated ranging 1 4 lower score corresponding lower vaccine literacy chi square test students test used identify knowledge attitudes associated covid19 vaccine hesitancy p value equal less 005 considered statistically significant results two hundred cancer patients included mean age 544127 gender ratio equal 05 sixtyfive percent reported would receive covid19 vaccine vaccine hesitancy associated lower interactive vaccine literacy score 1608 vs 20 p 0002 skepticism regarding covid19 vaccine efficacy safety 738 vs 385 p amplt 0001 believing health authorities able vaccinate majority population 712 vs 557 p 0037 conclusions proportion covid19 vaccine hesitancy among cancer patients high mass media campaigns vaccine promotion enhanced physicians health care workers play key role increasing acceptance uptake covid19 vaccine among high risk patients key messages majority cancer patients unwilling receive covid19 vaccine patient education benefits vaccination sarscov2 integral part oncology visits