Acceptance Towards  COVID-19 Vaccination in Breast Cancer Patients: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study  in A Tertiary Care Hospital  of Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Asmara Ahmed Malik; Zubaida Rashid; Syeda Rifaat Qamar Naqvi; Mommana Ali Rathore; Nadia Ramzan

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v74iSUPPL-2.9545

Authors

Asmara Ahmed Malik Department of Community Medicine, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Zubaida Rashid Department of Community Medicine, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Syeda Rifaat Qamar Naqvi Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital /National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Mommana Ali Rathore Department of Community Medicine, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Nadia Ramzan Department of Community Medicine, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v74iSUPPL-2.9545

Keywords:

Breast cancer; COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccine; Vaccination; Vaccine Acceptance.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

Study Design: Analytical cross-sectional.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Breast Cancer Outpatient Department located in a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan from Nov 2021 to Jul 2022.

Methodology: Validated questionnaire was used to collect data from patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Sample size of n=134 was attained using non-probability consecutive sampling. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. A p-value of <0.05 was taken as significant. Outcome assessed was whether breast cancer patient’s personal level of knowledge, mindset, motivation, and concerns towards getting about COVID-19 vaccination helped or hindered their acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination.

Results: COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was found among 124(92.5%) breast cancer patients. Social media and means of mass communication such as television were significant sources of information for COVID-19 related vaccine information (p<0.05). A strong positive correlation was found between Total Vaccine Acceptance Score with domains of Knowledge (r=0.353, p<0.000), Mindset (r=0.662, p< 0.000), Motivation (r=0.780, p< 0.000) and Concerns (r=0.800, p< 0.000). Higher awareness with positive motivators and mindset of participants lead to greater acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines despite breast cancer diagnosis.

Conclusion: High vaccine acceptance was found among breast cancer patients. High scores of COVID-19 disease knowledge, positive mindset and high motivation towards COVID-19 vaccines leading to a higher overall vaccine acceptance.

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