Last update:
   01-Aug-2025
 

Arch Hellen Med, 42(5), September-October 2025, 631-641

ORIGINAL PAPER

Knowledge, fear and motivation as influential factors of vaccination against COVID-19 in diabetic patients

I. Efstratiou,1 A. Rodi-Burriel,2 S. Plakas,1 P. Galanis,3 T. Adamakidou,4 S. Parissopoulos,1 M. Kitsou,1 C. Tsiou1
1Department of Nursing, University of West Attica, Athens,
2Department of Nursing, University of the Peloponnese, Tripoli,
3Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens,
4Research Laboratory of Home Health Care, Department of Nursing, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece

OBJECTIVE The investigation of diabetics' knowledge, fear and motivation levels about COVID-19 disease and its preventive vaccination as well as the correlation of the specific factors with the vaccination coverage in a diabetic population.

METHOD A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 554 adult diabetic patients was conducted. Participants were contacted −from December 2021 to May 2022− either face-to-face during their visit as diabetic outpatients to a public hospital or online, with the help of specializing associations. For data collection, a 12-item knowledge questionnaire, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and the Motivation Scale for Vaccination against COVID-19 (Motors of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Scale, MoVac-COVID19S) were used. The Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient for each of the questionnaires was >0.7, which indicates acceptable reliability. All ethical rules governing research in human beings were applied.

RESULTS Participants had a COVID-19 vaccination coverage rate of 92.4%, moderate-to-high knowledge level (medium score: 8.4±2.4), moderate fear level (medium score: 19.1±5.7) and also a moderate motivation level (medium score: 5.1±1.4). Through multivariable logistic regression, it was established that vaccination coverage against COVID-19 disease was positively associated with lack of diabetic complications (p<0.001), less fear (p<0.001) and increased motivation to be vaccinated (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS High vaccination coverage against COVID-19 disease worked beneficially in diabetic patients. Based on the benefits of vaccination, a continued vigilance of the state apparatus is recommended −after the end of the pandemic– with the aim of multifaceted incitement and empowerment of diabetics for compliance with the current recommendations of the national vaccination committee.

Key words: Coronavirus, Diabetes, Fear, Knowledge, Motivation, Vaccination.

© Archives of Hellenic Medicine