Changes in Students’ Perceptions Regarding Adolescent Vaccinations through a Before–After Study Conducted during the COVID-19 Pandemic: GIRASOLE Project Study
Author:
Restivo Vincenzo1ORCID, Bruno Alessandra1, Minutolo Giuseppa1, Pieri Alessia2, Riggio Luca1, Zarcone Maurizio2, Candiloro Stefania1, Caldarella Rosalia2, Immordino Palmira1ORCID, Amodio Emanuele1ORCID, Casuccio Alessandra1ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy 2. Clinical Epidemiology and Cancer Registry Unit, University Hospital “P. Giaccone”, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a reduction in vaccination coverage for all age groups, especially in non-infant age. The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an online intervention conducted among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in increasing knowledge and positive attitudes toward vaccinations. The study, which took place online from March to May 2021, involved 267 students from six lower secondary schools in Palermo city (Italy); they filled out the questionnaire before and after the intervention. The questionnaire was based on the protection motivation theory (PMT), which estimates the improvement in vaccination-related knowledge and attitudes. The pre- and post-intervention comparison showed a significant increase in the perception of the disease severity: strongly agree pre-intervention n = 150 (58.6%) and post-intervention n = 173 (67.6%, p < 0.001), rated on a five-point Likert scale. In a multivariate analysis, the factor associated with the improvement in the score after the intervention was the school dropout index (low vs. very high dropout index OR 4.5; p < 0.03). The educational intervention was more effective in schools with lower early school leaving rates, an indirect index of socio-economic status. The topic of vaccination has caught the adolescents’ attention, it is, therefore, important that interventions tackling teenagers are tailored to reduce their emotional tension about the perception of adverse effects and improve vaccination coverage.
Subject
Pharmacology (medical),Infectious Diseases,Drug Discovery,Pharmacology,Immunology
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