Knowledge and perceptions towards candidate COVID-19 vaccines among practicing physicians of Tamil Nadu: a cross-sectional pilot study

Authors

  • K. R. S. Sivapriya Department of Community Medicine, Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4927-0138
  • A. Keerthana Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital , Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Balaji Arumugam Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital , Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • R. Nivetha Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital , Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20213548

Keywords:

COVID-19 vaccines, Perceptions, Physicians

Abstract

Background: The world is in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic and WHO is working in collaboration with scientists, business and global health organizations to speed up the pandemic response and they are racing to find a vaccine. COVAX the largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio in the world launched by WHO. There are currently over 189 COVID-19 vaccine candidates under development, with 40 of these in the human trial phase. This study was done to assess the knowledge and perceptions towards candidate COVID-19 vaccines among practicing physicians.

Methods: A cross-sectional study were done among 129 practicing physicians using a semi-structured, validated, questionnaire through online Google forms after obtaining the informed consent. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results: The study was done among 129 practicing physicians of which 65 (50.4%) were males and 64 (49.6%) were females and majority of them in the age group of 21-40 years (77.5%) with a mean age of 34.89±9.906 years. 82.2% of the participants were working with the clinical specialty of which 95 (73.6%) with 10 years of professional experience and 23 (17.8%) had 10-20 years of professional experience. Majority of the practicing physicians 92 (72.3%) have average knowledge towards COVID-19 vaccines. Overall, the physicians showed positive attitude towards COVID-19 vaccines and 107 (82.9%) said that COVID-19 vaccine was really needed to control the pandemic.

Conclusions: The study recommends promoting all precautionary and preventive measures of COVID-19 with a comprehensive training program for the practicing physicians before the implementation of COVID-19 vaccines which will support public engagement strategies and help to build preparedness for potential vaccine introduction. 

Author Biography

K. R. S. Sivapriya, Department of Community Medicine, Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Community Medicine 

Professor and Head 

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Published

2021-08-27

How to Cite

S. Sivapriya, K. R., Keerthana, A., Arumugam, B., & Nivetha, R. (2021). Knowledge and perceptions towards candidate COVID-19 vaccines among practicing physicians of Tamil Nadu: a cross-sectional pilot study. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 8(9), 4432–4438. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20213548

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Section

Original Research Articles