Literacy and Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Vaccine in Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND: Identifying motives of the patients’ decision to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and assessing their attitudes towards the vaccine will provide them acquire the most convenient health care. The aim of this study is to assess the cancer patients’ COVID-19 vaccine literacy and attitudes toward the vaccine. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 198 participants who were submitted treatment from the oncology department of Pendik Training and Research Hospital in October 2022. The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were examined, including the knowledge on COVID-19 infection and vaccination. COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy Scale and Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Vaccine Scale were evaluated. Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests are used in SPSS 28. The statistical significance was set at 0.05 level. RESULTS: All of the patients had at least one malignancy history, and 88.4% (n = 175) of them had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine. Positive vaccination attitude was higher in those patients who are male (p < 0.05) or older than 60 years (p < 0.001). The vaccine literacy was higher in the male patients, those who had higher education, and those who had vaccination intention (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). The ones who get influenza or pneumococcal vaccines were more likely to have the next COVID-19 vaccine (p < 0.05, p < 0.05). The male patients had higher scores in functional skills (p < 0.05). While functional skill scores were lowest in those aged 18 to 45 (p < 0.05), communication skill scores were highest (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As with all infectious diseases, COVID-19 is an important public health concern. Identifying risk groups of the community based on the vaccine attitude would allow health practitioners and policymakers to be prepared for probable crisis situations such as pandemic. KEY MESSAGES: • Special groups such as cancer patients are needed to be specifically assessed about the possible outcomes of the vaccination. • It is essential to provide vaccination consultation during pandemics due to the limited availability and accessibility of healthcare services.