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Bridging the gap: understanding vaccination awareness and attitudes in healthcare students of the United Arab Emirates

Saryia Adra1, Fatima Taha1, Hareem Raza1, Sarah Juman Bilalaga1, Almuzaffar Mustafa Al Moukdad1, Mohamad Mahfouz1, Ali Banan Zibdeh1, Hiba Jawdat Barqawi1,2, Eman Abu-Gharbieh1,2,3★★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.
  2. 2Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.
  3. 3School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan.

CORRESPONDENCE

Eman Abu-Gharbieh

Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan. , e.abugharbieh@ju.edu.jo

eabugharbieh@sharjah.ac.ae

Received: 08-10-2023; Accepted: 17-11-2023.

Volume 22, Issue 4 · pp. 3056 · PUBLISHED Oct-Dec 2024 · DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2024.4.3056

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ABSTRACT

Background: Healthcare students (HCS) are at an elevated risk of infection and potential sources of infection for patients. This study focuses on HCSs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding their vaccination status, awareness, and attitudes. The lack of standardized vaccination policies among UAE medical universities and the recent global emphasis on HCSs’ vaccination highlight the importance of this research. Methods: A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire, targeting current healthcare students in the UAE was conducted. A minimum sample size of 400 was calculated, and data were collected between March and May 2023. Statistical analysis including descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted. Results: Most of the participants received their childhood vaccination and some adult vaccines. Despite 97.3% claiming awareness of the importance of HCSs’ vaccination, the average knowledge score was 8.5 ± 1.8 (score ranged from 0 to 13). Medical students had slightly lower knowledge scores compared to other healthcare majors. 75.9% received information on the required vaccinations before clinical training. There was a significant relationship between receiving information and awareness of the need for specific vaccinations (p<0.001). 56.0% checked their titres prior to clinical training, mainly due to training requirements (51.8%). Barriers to vaccination included vaccine availability and low perceived risk. Conclusion: This study underscores the gap between healthcare students’ perceived and actual knowledge of the required vaccinations; highlighting the need for educational initiatives and clear vaccination information. Healthcare educational institutes play a crucial role in ensuring vaccination knowledge and practices of their students meet the recommended standards.

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      Adra, S., Taha, F., Raza, H., Bilalaga, S. J., Moukdad, A. M. A., Mahfouz, M., Zibdeh, A. B., Barqawi, H. J., & Abu-Gharbieh, E. (2024). Bridging the gap: understanding vaccination awareness and attitudes in healthcare students of the United Arab Emirates. Pharmacy Practice, 22(4), 3056. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2024.4.3056