Attitudes and knowledge of vaccination against COVID-19 disease among the students and teachers in the Medical School in Šibenik

Cilj: Cilj istraživanja je ispitati stavove i znanja učenika i nastavnika Medicinske škole u Šibeniku o cijepljenju protiv COVID-19 bolesti. Ispitanici i metode: U istraživanju je sveukupno sudjelovalo 282 ispitanika, od kojih je 247 učenika i 35 nastavnika. Sudjelovali su učenici smjerova: medicinska sestra/tehničar opće njege, farmaceutski tehničar/ka, fizioterapeutski tehničar/ka, zdravstveno-laboratorijski tehničar/ka. Pitanja u upitniku su se odnosila na namjere i ponašanja sudionika u vezi s cijepljenjem protiv COVID-19 bolesti te čimbenike koji utječu na njihove odluke o prihvaćanju, neodlučnosti ili odbijanju cijepljenja. Rezultati: Rezultati ukazuju da su nastavnici pokazali veće znanje, pozitivnije stavove i povjerenje o cijepljenju protiv Covid-19 bolesti od učenika. Pandemija COVID-19 imala je utjecaj na mentalno zdravlje ispitanika, a znanje učenika o pandemiji se ne razlikuje s obzirom na smjer koji učenici pohađaju. Ispitanici mlađe životne dobi manje su se spremi cijepiti. Ispitanici se međusobno razlikuju u izboru izvora informiranja o cjepivima. Zaključak: Škola kao ustanova treba organizirati dodatne edukacije, predavanja te mogućnost stručnog savjetovanja s ciljem promjene znanja i stavova o Covid 19 pandemiji.Aim: The aim of the research is to question the attitudes and knowledge on vaccination against COVID-19 disease among the students and teachers of the Medical School in Šibenik. Respondents and methods: The total of 282 respondents took part in the research, out of which 247 students and 35 teachers as well. The students from the following courses participated in the research: nurse/medical technician of general care, pharmaceutical technician, physiotherapist and laboratory technician. The questions in the questionnaire reffered to the intentions and behaviour of participants related to vaccination against COVID-19 disease and the factors wich influence their decision on accepting, indecisiveness or rejecting vaccination. Results: The results suggest that the teachers have more knowledge and more positive attitude and confidence in vaccation against COVID-19 disease than the students. Pandemic has affected respondents mental health, and students knowledge on COVID-19 pandemic doesn't differ with the courses they attend. Younger respondents are less ready to get vaccinated. The respondents use different sources to get information about vaccines. Conclusion: The school as an institution has to organize additional education, lessons and expert tuition aiming to improve attitudes and knowledge of COVID-19 pandemic