Vaccine Enthusiasm and Hesitancy in Cancer Patients and the Impact of a Webinar
(1) Background: Vaccine hesitancy and rejection are major threats to controlling coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is a paucity of information about the attitudes of cancer patients towards vaccinations and the role of clinical oncologists in influencing vaccination acceptance. (2) Methods:...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/3/351 |
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| author | Amar H. Kelkar Jodian A. Blake Kartikeya Cherabuddi Hailee Cornett Bobbie L. McKee Christopher R. Cogle |
| author_facet | Amar H. Kelkar Jodian A. Blake Kartikeya Cherabuddi Hailee Cornett Bobbie L. McKee Christopher R. Cogle |
| author_sort | Amar H. Kelkar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Vaccine hesitancy and rejection are major threats to controlling coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is a paucity of information about the attitudes of cancer patients towards vaccinations and the role of clinical oncologists in influencing vaccination acceptance. (2) Methods: Cancer patients and caregivers were invited to participate in a webinar and two surveys (pre- and post-webinar) assessing intention and thought processes associated with receiving COVID-19 vaccines. (3) Results: Two hundred and sixty-four participants participated in the webinar and registered to take at least one survey. Participants reported receiving most of their COVID-19 vaccine information from their doctor, clinic, or hospital. Before the webinar, 71% of participants reported the intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, 24% were unsure, and 5% had no intention of receiving a vaccine. The strongest predictors of vaccine enthusiasm were (a) planning to encourage the vaccination of family, friends, co-workers, and community, and (b) physician recommendation. The chief reason for vaccine hesitancy was a fear of side effects. After the webinar, 82.5% reported the intention to receive a vaccine, 15.4% were still unsure, and 2% stated that they had no intention of receiving a vaccine. The webinar shifted the attitude towards vaccine enthusiasm, despite an already vaccine-enthusiastic population. Communicating about vaccines using positive framing is associated with greater vaccine enthusiasm. (4) Conclusions: Patient education programs co-hosted by multiple stakeholders and delivered by oncologists can increase cancer patient enthusiasm for COVID-19 vaccination. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:05:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec16431506cd4b86b62b3cc8818795b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:05:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec16431506cd4b86b62b3cc8818795b02023-11-21T11:12:08ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322021-03-019335110.3390/healthcare9030351Vaccine Enthusiasm and Hesitancy in Cancer Patients and the Impact of a WebinarAmar H. Kelkar0Jodian A. Blake1Kartikeya Cherabuddi2Hailee Cornett3Bobbie L. McKee4Christopher R. Cogle5Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USAOffice of Community Outreach, Engagement & Equity, UF Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL 32610, USADivision of Infectious Disease & Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USANorth Central Florida Cancer Control Collaborative Consortium, Well Florida Council, Gainesville, FL 32606, USAFlorida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USADivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA(1) Background: Vaccine hesitancy and rejection are major threats to controlling coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is a paucity of information about the attitudes of cancer patients towards vaccinations and the role of clinical oncologists in influencing vaccination acceptance. (2) Methods: Cancer patients and caregivers were invited to participate in a webinar and two surveys (pre- and post-webinar) assessing intention and thought processes associated with receiving COVID-19 vaccines. (3) Results: Two hundred and sixty-four participants participated in the webinar and registered to take at least one survey. Participants reported receiving most of their COVID-19 vaccine information from their doctor, clinic, or hospital. Before the webinar, 71% of participants reported the intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, 24% were unsure, and 5% had no intention of receiving a vaccine. The strongest predictors of vaccine enthusiasm were (a) planning to encourage the vaccination of family, friends, co-workers, and community, and (b) physician recommendation. The chief reason for vaccine hesitancy was a fear of side effects. After the webinar, 82.5% reported the intention to receive a vaccine, 15.4% were still unsure, and 2% stated that they had no intention of receiving a vaccine. The webinar shifted the attitude towards vaccine enthusiasm, despite an already vaccine-enthusiastic population. Communicating about vaccines using positive framing is associated with greater vaccine enthusiasm. (4) Conclusions: Patient education programs co-hosted by multiple stakeholders and delivered by oncologists can increase cancer patient enthusiasm for COVID-19 vaccination.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/3/351COVID-19SARS-CoV2vaccine hesitancyvaccinepublic healthpatient education |
| spellingShingle | Amar H. Kelkar Jodian A. Blake Kartikeya Cherabuddi Hailee Cornett Bobbie L. McKee Christopher R. Cogle Vaccine Enthusiasm and Hesitancy in Cancer Patients and the Impact of a Webinar Healthcare COVID-19 SARS-CoV2 vaccine hesitancy vaccine public health patient education |
| title | Vaccine Enthusiasm and Hesitancy in Cancer Patients and the Impact of a Webinar |
| title_full | Vaccine Enthusiasm and Hesitancy in Cancer Patients and the Impact of a Webinar |
| title_fullStr | Vaccine Enthusiasm and Hesitancy in Cancer Patients and the Impact of a Webinar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vaccine Enthusiasm and Hesitancy in Cancer Patients and the Impact of a Webinar |
| title_short | Vaccine Enthusiasm and Hesitancy in Cancer Patients and the Impact of a Webinar |
| title_sort | vaccine enthusiasm and hesitancy in cancer patients and the impact of a webinar |
| topic | COVID-19 SARS-CoV2 vaccine hesitancy vaccine public health patient education |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/3/351 |
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