Last update:
   22-Apr-2024
 

Arch Hellen Med, 41(3), May-June 2024, 363-369

ORIGINAL PAPER

Information needs and feelings of the Greek population towards vaccination against COVID-19 during the pandemic

C. Platis,1,2 I. Maragos,2 P. Theodorou,2 M.E. Psomiadi,3 P. Kostagiolas,2,4 D. Niakas2,5
1Hospital Services Costing and Documentation Center SA, Athens,
2Postgraduate Course "Health Care Management", School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras,
3Directory of Operational Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies, Ministry of Health, Athens,
4Department of Archives, Library Science and Museology, Ionian University, Corfu,
5School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

OJECTIVE To capture information needs and feelings of the general population towards the vaccination against COVID-19 in the regional unit of Achaia, as well as to investigate their differentiation on the basis of their demographics.

METHOD A cross-sectional study with a sample of 306 Achaia residents was designed to serve the purpose of the study. The research tool was composed of three distinct, structured, closed-type, anonymized, self-fulfilling questionnaires; one recording participants' demographics, one investigating their informational behavior, and one assessing their feelings toward COVID-19 vaccination. Data's analysis was carried out with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS IBM), version 22.0.

RESULTS Topics as "precautionary measures in case of contact", "protective measures and precautions", "vaccination for COVID-19 treatment", and "ways of transmission and transmissibility" were the ones the study participants more frequently seek information for. "Anxiety" and "relief" were the feelings acknowledged as felt more intently by the study participants towards COVID-19 vaccination, with women manifesting "anxiety" more intensively while those with higher income manifested "anger" more intensively.

CONCLUSIONS The changes brought by COVID-19 that have created a novel global health reality comprise a teaching experience for the future. However, it is imperative not only to highlight information literacy's and information behavior's importance, but also to develop continuous education programs for the population in these areas.

Key words: COVID-19 vaccination, Feelings towards COVID-19 vaccination, Information needs, Information-seeking behavior.

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