Abstract
Background:
COVID-19 has affected the world and caused more than six million deaths globally (World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). Without a gold standard of effective treatment for the disease, vaccination is considered as a critical tool to help protect individuals against the virus in addition to implement stringent infection preventive measures. Young adults are considered to be greatly spared the mortality, they may not be like the elderly to get severely ill from COVID-19 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020]. The limited risk of contracting the disease may affect people's decision or action in taking the preventive measures and/or receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
This study aims to determine factors that are related to the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among the university students in Hong Kong.
Methods:
An online survey was conducted among the university students in Hong Kong. Data was collected from March to June 2022. Pearson correlation coefficient was employed in examining the relationships among zero COVID-19 strategies, vaccine acceptance and perceptions regarding the disease. The vaccine acceptance was measured by using a 12-item DrVac-COVID19S and the perceptions regarding COVID-19 were measured by using a 7-item Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Ten questions regarding zero COVID-19 strategies were developed by the project team and were validated in terms of content validity through expert reviews. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of the Hong Kong Baptist University.
Results:
Total 380 University students participated in this study. More than half of the students studied in a health-related program (51.8%). Based on the bivariate analysis, it showed a significant positive relationship between zero COVID-19 strategy, and both vaccine acceptance (r=0.433, p<0.001) and perception regarding the fear of COVID-19 (r=0.381, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
To conclude, acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine was associated with the university students’ perception regarding zero COVID-19 strategies and their fear of COVID-19. And these two factors should be inculcated when promoting or enhancing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among the university students.
COVID-19 has affected the world and caused more than six million deaths globally (World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). Without a gold standard of effective treatment for the disease, vaccination is considered as a critical tool to help protect individuals against the virus in addition to implement stringent infection preventive measures. Young adults are considered to be greatly spared the mortality, they may not be like the elderly to get severely ill from COVID-19 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020]. The limited risk of contracting the disease may affect people's decision or action in taking the preventive measures and/or receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
This study aims to determine factors that are related to the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among the university students in Hong Kong.
Methods:
An online survey was conducted among the university students in Hong Kong. Data was collected from March to June 2022. Pearson correlation coefficient was employed in examining the relationships among zero COVID-19 strategies, vaccine acceptance and perceptions regarding the disease. The vaccine acceptance was measured by using a 12-item DrVac-COVID19S and the perceptions regarding COVID-19 were measured by using a 7-item Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Ten questions regarding zero COVID-19 strategies were developed by the project team and were validated in terms of content validity through expert reviews. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of the Hong Kong Baptist University.
Results:
Total 380 University students participated in this study. More than half of the students studied in a health-related program (51.8%). Based on the bivariate analysis, it showed a significant positive relationship between zero COVID-19 strategy, and both vaccine acceptance (r=0.433, p<0.001) and perception regarding the fear of COVID-19 (r=0.381, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
To conclude, acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine was associated with the university students’ perception regarding zero COVID-19 strategies and their fear of COVID-19. And these two factors should be inculcated when promoting or enhancing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among the university students.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 18 Aug 2022 |
| Event | International Conference on Environment & Human Health: Challenges & Opportunities in the 21st Century - Online, Hong Kong Duration: 18 Aug 2022 → 19 Aug 2022 https://airtable.com/shr8xRu6PWvJujc6E/tblA43553XrWoZgVr (Conference abstracts) https://www.sce.hkbu.edu.hk/en/upcoming-event/international-conference-on-environment-human-health-challenges-opportunities-in-the-21st-century-sc-translation-en-translation/ |
Conference
| Conference | International Conference on Environment & Human Health |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ICEHH 2022 |
| Country/Territory | Hong Kong |
| Period | 18/08/22 → 19/08/22 |
| Internet address |
