Browsing by Author "Alhuzaimi, Abdullah N."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Exploring Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance, Uptake, and Hesitancy in the Pediatric Population: A Study of Parents and Caregivers in Saudi Arabia during the Initial Vaccination Phase
    (MDPI, 2023-03-29) Alhuzaimi, Abdullah N.; Alrasheed, Abdullah A.; Al-Eyadhy, Ayman; Aljamaan, Fadi; Alhasan, Khalid; Batais, Mohammed A.; Jamal, Amr; Alshahrani, Fatimah S.; Alenezi, Shuliweeh; Alhaboob, Ali; AlZamil, Fahad; Bashumeel, Yaser Y.; Banaeem, Ahmad M.; Aldawood, Abdulrahman; Halwani, Rabih; Barry, Mazin; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A.; Temsah, Mohamad-Hani; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Objectives: This study aims to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, uptake, and hesitancy among parents and caregivers of children in Saudi Arabia during the initial rollout of pediatric COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: An electronic survey was used to collect data from participants who visited a COVID-19 vaccine center. The survey included demographic data, COVID-19 vaccine status among participants and their children, and reasons for vaccine acceptance or rejection. The Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) tool was also employed to assess vaccine hesitancy and attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine and routine childhood vaccination. Multivariate binary regression analysis was used to identify predictors of actual COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children. Results: Of the 873 respondents included in the analysis, 61.5% were parents and 38.5% were other caregivers. Of the participants, 96.9% had received the COVID-19 vaccine. Six hundred and ninety-four participants accepted the vaccine for their children, with the main reasons being an endorsement by the Saudi Ministry of Health (60%) and the importance of going back to school (55%). One hundred and seventy-nine participants would not vaccinate their children, with the most common reasons being fear of adverse effects (49%) and inadequate data about vaccine safety (48%). Factors such as age, COVID-19 vaccination status, self-rated family commitment level, attitudes toward routine children's vaccines, and participants' generalized anxiety disorder (GAD7) score did not significantly correlate with children's COVID-19 vaccination status. Parents were less likely to vaccinate their children compared to other caregivers, and participants with a higher socioeconomic status were more likely to vaccinate their children. Conclusion: Vaccine acceptance and uptake were high during the initial pediatric COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Saudi Arabia. Still, the ongoing endorsement of the Ministry of Health and healthcare authorities should continue to advocate for better vaccine uptake in children.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Parental Attitudes and Hesitancy About COVID-19 vs. Routine Childhood Vaccinations: A National Survey
    (Frontiers, 2021-10) Temsah, Mohamad-Hani; Alhuzaimi, Abdullah N.; Aljamaan, Fadi; Bahkali, Feras; Al-Eyadhy, Ayman; Alrabiaah, Abdulkarim; Alhaboob, Ali; Bashiri, Fahad A.; Alshaer, Ahmad; Temsah, Omar; Bassrawi, Rolan; Alshahrani, Fatimah; Chaiah, Yazan; Alaraj, Ali; Assad Assiri, Rasha; Jamal, Amr; Batais, Mohammed A.; Saddik, Basema; Halwani, Rabih; Alzamil, Fahad; Memish, Ziad A.; Barry, Mazin; Al-Subaie, Sarah; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A.; Alhasen, Khalid; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Objectives: To quantify parental acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and assess the vaccine hesitancy (VH) for COVID-19 vs. childhood vaccines. Methods: Eight vaccine hesitancy scale (VHS) items, adopted from WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Immunization (SAGE), were used to assess VH for COVID-19 vaccine vs. routine childhood vaccines. We distributed the online survey to parents with the commence of the national childhood COVID-19 vaccination program in Saudi Arabia. Results: Among 3,167 parents, 47.6% are decided to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. The most common reasons for refusal were inadequate safety information (69%) and worry about side effects (60.6%). Parents have a significantly greater positive attitudes toward children's routine vaccines vs. the COVID-19 vaccine, with higher mean VHS (±SD) = 2.98 ± 0.58 vs. 2.63 ± 0.73, respectively (p-value < 0.001). Parents agreed more that routine childhood vaccines are more essential and effective as compared to the COVID-19 vaccine (Cohen's D: 0.946, and 0.826, consecutively; T-test p-value < 0.00). There is more parental anxiety about serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine vs. routine childhood vaccines (Cohen's D = 0.706, p-value < 0.001). Parents who relied on the Ministry of Health information were more predicted (OR = 1.28, p-value = 0.035) to intend to vaccinate as opposed to those who used the WHO website (OR = 0.47, −53%, p-value < 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the factors associated with intention to vaccinate children were parents who received COVID-19 vaccine, older parents, having children aged 12–18, and parents with lower education levels. Conclusions: Significant proportion of parents are hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine because they are less confident in its effectiveness, safety, and whether it is essential for their children. Relying on the national official healthcare authority's website for the source of information was associated with increased acceptance of childhood COVID-19 vaccination. As parental intention to vaccinate children against COVID-19 is suboptimal, healthcare authorities could boost vaccine uptake by campaigns targeting hesitant parents.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 UK Variant of Concern Lineage-Related Perceptions, COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Travel Worry Among Healthcare Workers
    (Frontiers, 2021-05) Temsah, Mohamad-Hani; Barry, Mazin; Aljamaan, Fadi; Alhuzaimi, Abdullah N.; Al-Eyadhy, Ayman; Saddik, Basema; Alsohime, Fahad; Alhaboob, Ali; Alhasan, Khalid; Alaraj, Ali; Halwani, Rabih; Jamal, Amr; Alamro, Nurah; Temsah, Reem; Esmaeil, Samia; Alenezi, Shuliweeh; Alzamil, Fahad; Somily, Ali M.; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: Healthcare workers' (HCWs') travel-related anxiety needs to be assessed in light of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Methods: An online, cross-sectional questionnaire among HCWs between December 21, 2020 to January 7, 2021. The outcome variables were HCWs' knowledge and awareness of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage that was recently reported as the UK variant of concern, and its associated travel worry and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) score. Results: A total of 1,058 HCWs completed the survey; 66.5% were female, 59.0% were nurses. 9.0% indicated they had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. Regarding the B.1.1.7 lineage, almost all (97.3%) were aware of its emergence, 73.8% were aware that it is more infectious, 78.0% thought it causes more severe disease, and only 50.0% knew that current COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing it. Despite this, 66.7% of HCWs were not registered to receive the vaccine. HCWs' most common source of information about the new variant was social media platforms (67.0%), and this subgroup was significantly more worried about traveling. Nurses were more worried than physicians (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Most HCWs were aware of the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant and expressed substantial travel worries. Increased worry levels were found among HCWs who used social media as their main source of information, those with lower levels of COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and those with higher GAD-7 scores. The utilization of official social media platforms could improve accurate information dissemination among HCWs regarding the Pandemic's evolving mutations. Targeted vaccine campaigns are warranted to assure HCWs about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines toward SARS-CoV-2 variants.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Virtual Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Training in the Pandemic Era: Feasibility, Satisfaction, and the Road Ahead
    (Springer Nature, 2024-06-03) Saeed, Elshazaly; Hamad, Muddathir H.; Alhuzaimi, Abdullah N.; Aljamaan, Fadi; Elsenterisi, Hossameldin; Assiri, Heba; Alhasan, Khalid; Bashiri, Fahad A.; Kambal, Mohammad; Khalil, Mahmoud Salah; Abdulghani, Hamza Mohammad; Al-Tawfiq, Jaffar A.; Al-Eyadhy, Ayman; Temsah, Mohamad-Hani; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Introduction: Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are essential assessments for evaluating the clinical competencies of medical students. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant disruption in medical education, prompting institutions to adopt virtual formats for academic activities. This study analyzes the feasibility, satisfaction, and experiences of pediatric board candidates and faculty during virtual or electronic OSCE (e-OSCE) training sessions using Zoom video communication (Zoom Video Communications, Inc., San Jose, USA). Methods: This is a post-event survey assessing the perceptions of faculty and candidates and the perceived advantages and obstacles of e-OSCE. Results: A total of 142 participants were invited to complete a post-event survey, and 105 (73.9%) completed the survey. There was equal gender representation. More than half of the participants were examiners. The overall satisfaction with the virtual e-OSCE was high, with a mean score of 4.7±0.67 out of 5. Most participants were likely to recommend e-OSCE to a friend or colleague (mean score 8.84±1.51/10). More faculty (66.1%) than candidates (40.8%) preferred e-OSCE (P=0.006). Conclusion: Transitioning to virtual OSCE training during the pandemic proved feasible, with high satisfaction rates. Further research on virtual training for OSCE in medical education is recommended to optimize its implementation and outcomes.