SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage-related perceptions, COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and travel worry among healthcare workers

Abstract

BackgroundHealthcare workers’ (HCWs’) travel-related anxiety needs to be assessed in light of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutations.MethodsAn online, cross-sectional questionnaire among HCWs between December 21, 2020 to January 7, 2021. The outcome variables were HCWs’ knowledge and awareness of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage, and its associated travel worry and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) score.ResultsA total of 1,058 HCWs completed the survey; 66.5% were female, 59.0% were nurses. 9.0% indicated they had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19 themselves. Regarding the B.1.1.7 lineage, almost all (97.3%) were aware of its emergence, 73.8% were aware that it is more infectious, 78.0% thought it causes more severe disease, and only 50.0% knew that current COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing it. Despite this, 66.7% of HCWs were not registered to receive the vaccine. HCWs’ most common source of information about the new variant was social media platforms (67%), and this subgroup was significantly more worried about travelling. Nurses were more worried than physicians (P=0.001); additionally, those who had not travelled in the previous 3 months and those who had not received or registered for the COVID-19 vaccine were also significantly more worried (P = 0.037 and P < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsMost HCWs were aware of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant and expressed substantial travel worries. Increased worry levels were found among HCWs who used social media as their main source of information, those with lower levels of COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and those with higher GAD-7 scores. Utilization of official social media platforms could improve accurate information dissemination among HCWs regarding the pandemic’s evolving mutations. Targeted vaccine campaigns are warranted to assure HCWs about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines toward SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Adenovirus and RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines’ perceptions and acceptance among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: a national survey

“…Seeking knowledge from reliable sources about the pandemic and vaccinations could significantly impact the HCWs' perceptions of vaccine acceptance. 50 Misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine was associated with decreased vaccination acceptance among those who would otherwise definitely vaccinate. 51 It is interesting to note the differences in knowledge about vaccines by level of training.…”

ChatGPT for assessing risk of bias of randomized trials using the RoB 2.0 tool: A methods study

“…The integration of artificial intelligence and large language models in systematic reviews can also affect trust in health research. We anticipate that due to limited experience, evidence users will be more cautious about the application of studies that use such tools (45,46).…”

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: A Closer Look at ChatGPT's Usages and Challenges

“…The use of AI-supported chatbots for automated consultation could signi cantly affect the nurse-patient relationship, particularly in terms of patient trust. It is important to note that nursing is value-based, emphasizing compassion, empathy, care, respect, and dignity for the patient (24)(25)(26).…”