OBJECTIVE
To study the attitude towards vaccination of persons receiving palliative care, their relatives, and legal representatives; to assess the proportion of vaccinated against COVID-19 in these population groups and to determine the reasons for distrust of vaccination in general and COVID-19 in particular.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A sociological survey of patients (their legal representatives), relatives, and other persons caring for the patient was conducted on the quality of palliative care, provision of medicines, including those containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and medical devices for use at home. Participants in the survey were divided into three target groups: users of palliative care over 18 years of age; relatives/legal representatives/guardians of adults (over 18 years of age) of patients in need of palliative care; relatives/legal representatives/guardians of children (under 18 years of age) in need of palliative care. A total of 984 respondents participated in the survey. The sampling error for the overall study is not more than 2.63% at the significance level p<0.1 and 4.74% for each target group at the same significance level p<0.1.
RESULTS
The survey showed that for most palliative care recipients and their closest associates, the issue of trust in Russian vaccines was crucial for deciding on vaccination against COVID-19. Most respondents agreed that vaccines form long-term immunity and prevent severe infectious diseases, while a significant proportion of respondents noted that vaccination poses an additional risk to human health. The answers to the questions about various aspects of vaccination showed that many respondents could not decide on their attitude. The survey results showed that patients have maximum confidence in the official information on vaccination and information received from healthcare professionals and the media.
CONCLUSION
The study showed the need to increase the intensity of nationwide information campaigns and educational work on vaccination and the importance of improving the quality and expanding the scope of information messages. The study group of respondents, representing recipients of palliative care and their closest associates, is not sufficiently involved in vaccinating against infectious diseases in general and COVID-19 in particular. The study found a poor public understanding of vaccines’ effects on the body and the need for continuous outreach to the public on the immunity and mechanisms of vaccines’ work and safety. The primary source of information presented in the media for the target population groups should be the medical community.