Medical and non-medical students' knowledge, attitude and willingness towards the COVID-19 vaccine in China: a cross-sectional online survey. Issue 5 (30th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gao, Liyan; Su, Siman; Du, Niuniu; Han, Yu; Wei, Jiayi; Cao, Meijuan; Miao, Qunfang; Wang, Xiaolei
• Is Part Of: Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics. Volume 18:Issue 5(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-30
• Subjects: COVID-19 vaccination -- knowledge -- attitude -- willingness -- health self-management -- medical and non-medical student; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2073757
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2164-5515

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In the context of the novel Coronavirus outbreak and China's official policy of free vaccination against COVID-19 for all, medical students' attitudes and knowledge toward vaccines can influence public acceptance to some extent, however, the large base of non-medical students cannot be ignored. We aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and willingness toward the COVID-19 vaccine among medical and non-medical students. Online surveys were completed by 652 medical students and 590 non-medical students to compare differences in knowledge and attitude of COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination willingness from three universities in the Zhejiang Province. The awareness rate of the vaccine among medical students (65.3%) was higher than that of non-medical students (53.6%). The approval rate of medical students for the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine was higher than that of non-medical students. 81.8% of university students were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19; Multiple stepwise regression analyses showed that lower class grades, rural students' origin, COVID-19 vaccine attitude and higher cognition level of health self-management influenced the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among medical students. However, urban origin, COVID-19 vaccine attitude were the factors hindering non-medical students' vaccination against COVID-19. The knowledge, attitude and willingness toward the COVID-19 vaccine on medical and non-medical students had different characteristics. Moreover, health self-management was associated with COVID-19 vaccination willingness. Staff involved in the university should pay more attention to the self-managementability of students, send out accurate and transparent information to enhance their cognitive level, further improving the students' willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.