Predictors of nurses’ intention to accept COVID‐19 vaccination: A cross‐sectional study in five European countries

Patelarou, Athina; Saliaj, Aurela; Galanis, Petros; Pulomenaj, Velide; Prifti, Vasilika; Sopjani, Idriz; Mechili, Enkeleint A.; Laredo‐Aguilera, José Alberto; Kicaj, Emirjona; Kalokairinou, Athina; Cobo‐Cuenca, Ana Isabel; Celaj, Jerina; Carmona‐Torres, Juan Manuel; Bucaj, Jorgjia; Asimakopoulou, Evanthia; Argyriadi, Agathi; Argyriadis, Alexandros; Patelarou, Evridiki

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate nurses’ intention in accepting COVID‐19 vaccination and the factors affecting their decision. BACKGROUND: COVID‐19 vaccination has started in most European countries with healthcare personnel being the first group receiving the vaccine shots. Their attitude towards vaccination is of paramount significant as their role in the frontline could help in the awareness of general population. METHODS: A study was conducted in Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Spain and Kosovo with the use of an online questionnaire. The Fear of COVID‐19 Scale was used. The STROBE checklist was followed for this cross‐sectional study. RESULTS: Study population consisted of 1135 nurses. Mean age of the participants was 38.3 years, while most of them were female gender (84.7%) and married (53.1%). Acceptance of a safe and effective COVID‐19 vaccine was higher among Greek (79.2%) and Spanish (71.6%) nurses, followed by Cypriot (54%), Albanian (46.3%) and Kosovo (46.2%) nurses. Key factors for willingness to get vaccinated were male gender, living in a country with a high mortality rate in comparison with low mortality, being not infected with COVID‐19, having high level of knowledge about COVID‐19 vaccines and having been vaccinated for influenza in the last 2 years. Moreover, trusting the government and doctors regarding the information about the COVID‐19 and having high level of fear about this virus were key factors for willingness to get vaccinated. CONCLUSION: Vaccination of healthcare personnel is a crucial issue not only for their own safety but also for their patients’. Healthcare acceptance to get vaccinated can work as a role model for general population. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Gender, country, mortality rate, trust in government and health professionals and the level of fear were key factors that should be managed in clinical practice.