Acceptability of Herpes Zoster Vaccination among Patients with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.
Dawood Al-OriniAbdulrahman A AlshoshanAbdullah O AlmutiriAbdulsalam A AlmreefEssa S AlrashidiAbdulrahman M AlmutiqRehana NomanOsama Al-WutaydPublished in: Vaccines (2023)
Background: Vaccines have recently been made available free of charge by the Saudi Ministry of Health for people 50 years or older. Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases herpes zoster (HZ) susceptibility, severity, serious complications, and negative impacts on underlying DM conditions, which are highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess the acceptability of the HZ vaccination and its predictors among patients with diabetes in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes from a primary healthcare center in the Qassim region was conducted. Information was obtained on sociodemographic characteristics, history of herpes zoster infection, knowing someone who had had herpes zoster, past vaccinations, and factors influencing their intention to receive the HZ vaccination through a self-administered online questionnaire. Results: The median age (IQR) was 56 years (53-62). Overall, 25% (n = 104/410) of the participants reported their acceptability of the HZ vaccination, and the predictors were being male (AOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.01-4.00, p = 0.047), believing the HZ vaccine was effective (AOR 3.94, 95% CI 2.25-6.90, p < 0.001), and awareness that immunocompromised individuals are at a higher risk of contracting HZ (AOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.37-3.93, p = 0.002). A total of 74.2% (n = 227/306) of the participants reported their acceptability of the HZ vaccination if advised by their physician, and the predictors were being male (AOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.18-4.79, p = 0.016) and having a history of varicella vaccine uptake (AOR 4.50, 95% CI 1.02-19.86, p = 0.047). Conclusions: One-quarter of the participants were ready to accept the HZ vaccine, but this proportion significantly increased when the patients were advised by their physicians. The uptake rate can be improved with the involvement of healthcare providers and focused awareness campaigns about the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Keyphrases
- saudi arabia
- healthcare
- health information
- primary care
- end stage renal disease
- type diabetes
- physical activity
- cardiovascular disease
- randomized controlled trial
- emergency department
- glycemic control
- mental health
- ejection fraction
- risk factors
- peritoneal dialysis
- systematic review
- public health
- social media
- adipose tissue
- prognostic factors
- risk assessment
- weight loss
- newly diagnosed
- insulin resistance
- health promotion