COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy in Cancer Patients and their Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccination

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 2, 89 - 106, 27.06.2025

Beyza Nur Ataoğlu , Dilşad Save , Ömer Faruk Domruk , Oğulcan Alan , Yusra Domruk , Seyhan Hıdıroğlu

Öz

Background: Determining the motivations behind receiving the COVID-19 vaccination is essential for providing equitable and ethical care. The aim of this study is to assess the COVID-19 vaccine literacy and attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine among cancer patients, with a focus on identifying disparities that may inform ethical healthcare practices.
Method: This cross-sectional study included patients aged 18 and above who were receiving a treatment for at least one malignancy at a training and research hospital in October of 2022. A total of 198 patients were assessed using the COVID-19 Vaccine Attitudes Scale and the COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy Scale.
Results: While every patient had a history of at least one cancer, 88.4% (n=175) of them had at least one COVID-19 vaccine. Patients who were male or older than 60 years old had more positive attitudes about vaccination (p=0.020; p<0.001). Male patients, those with higher education, and those planning to get vaccinated all had higher levels of vaccine literacy (p=0.020; p<0.001; p=0.035). In terms of functional skills related to COVID-19 vaccination literacy, the male patients scored higher than females as well (p=0.020). The age group of 18 to 45 exhibited the highest communication skill ratings, while functional skill scores were the lowest (p=0.044; p=0.035). The additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine was more likely to be administered to those who received pneumococcal or influenza vaccinations.
Conclusion: This study highlights the ethical responsibility of healthcare providers and policymakers to ensure equitable access to vaccination and vaccine related information, particularly among vulnerable populations. Identifying the high-risk group for tailored interventions contributes to the more effective and inclusive healthcare practices.

Anahtar Kelimeler

vaccination , Medical Ethics , COVID 19

Etik Beyan

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to this study.

Destekleyen Kurum

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Kanser Hastalarında COVID-19 Aşı Okuryazarlığı ve Kanser Hastalarının COVID-19 Aşısına Yönelik Tutumları

Öz

Giriş: COVID-19 aşısını olma motivasyonlarının belirlenmesi, adil ve etik sağlık hizmeti sunumu açısından oldukça önemlidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, kanser hastalarında COVID-19 aşı okuryazarlığını ve COVID-19 aşısına yönelik tutumu değerlendirmek olup, etik sağlık uygulamalarını yönlendirebilecek olası eşitsizlikleri ortaya koymaya odaklanmaktır.
Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışmaya, Ekim 2022’de bir eğitim ve araştırma hastanesinde en az bir malignite (kanser) nedeniyle tedavi gören, 18 yaş ve üzeri hastalar dâhil edilmiştir. Toplam 198 hasta, COVID-19 Aşı Tutum Ölçeği ve COVID-19 Aşı Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir.
Bulgular: Her hastanın en az bir kanser öyküsü olmasına rağmen, bunların %88,4'ü (n=175) en az bir COVID-19 aşısı yaptırdı. Erkek veya 60 yaşından büyük olan hastaların aşıya yönelik tutumları daha olumluydu (p=0,020; p<0,001). Erkek hastalar, yüksek eğitimliler ve aşı olmayı planlayanların hepsinin aşı okuryazarlığı düzeyleri daha yüksekti (p=0,020; p<0,001; p=0,035). COVID-19 aşı okuryazarlığıyla ilgili işlevsel beceriler açısından, erkek hastalar kadınlardan daha yüksek puan aldı (p=0,020). 18 - 45 yaş grubu en yüksek iletişimsel/eleştirel beceri puanlarını sergilerken, fonksiyonel beceri puanları en düşüktü (p=0,044; p=0,035). Pnömokok veya grip aşısı olanlara, COVID-19 aşısının ek dozunun uygulanma olasılığı daha yüksekti.
Sonuç: Kişiye özel müdahaleler için yüksek riskli grubun belirlenmesi, daha etkili ve kapsayıcı sağlık hizmeti uygulamalarına katkıda bulunur. Bu çalışma, özellikle savunmasız popülasyonlar arasında aşılama ve aşıyla ilgili bilgilere eşit erişimi sağlama konusunda sağlık hizmeti sağlayıcılarının ve politika yapıcıların etik sorumluluğunu vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

COVID-19 , aşılama , Tıp Etiği

Kaynakça

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