1. Nocebo-Prone Behavior Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Hesitancy in Healthcare Workers
- Author
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Evrydiki Kravvariti, Konstantina Aravantinou-Fatorou, Maria Mylona, Eleni Korompoki, Meletios A. Dimopoulos, Georgia Papagiannopoulou, Pinelopi Vryttia, Georgios Tsivgoulis, Dimos D. Mitsikostas, Martina Amanzio, Petros P. Sfikakis, Athanasios Dellis, Eumorphia-Maria Delicha, and Christina I. Deligianni
- Subjects
SARS‐CoV‐2 ,nocebo ,vaccine hesitancy ,healthcare workers ,tolerability ,adverse event ,Nocebo ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ,Immunology ,Article ,Drug Discovery ,Health care ,Medicine ,Pharmacology (medical) ,Adverse effect ,Pharmacology ,business.industry ,SARS-CoV-2 ,virus diseases ,Odds ratio ,Nocebo Effect ,Vaccination ,Infectious Diseases ,Tolerability ,business ,Demography - Abstract
Among healthcare workers (HCWs), SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy may be linked to a higher susceptibility to nocebo effects, i.e., adverse events (AEs) experienced after medical treatments due to negative expectations. To investigate this hypothesis a cross-sectional survey was performed with a self-completed questionnaire that included a tool (Q-No) for the identification of nocebo-prone individuals. A total of 1309 HCWs (67.2%women, 43.4% physicians, 28.4% nurses, 11·5% administrative staff, 16·6% other personnel) completed the questionnaires, among whom 237 (18.1%) had declined vaccination. Q-No scores were ≥15 in 325 participants (24.8%) suggesting nocebo-prone behavior. In a multivariate logistic regression model with Q-No score, age, gender, and occupation as independent variables, estimated odds ratios (ORs) of vaccination were 0.43 (i.e., less likely, p <, 0.001) in participants with Q-No score ≥15 vs. Q-No score <, 15, 0.58 in females vs. males (p = 0.013), and 4.7 (i.e., more likely) in physicians vs. other HCWs (p <, 0.001), independent of age, which was not significantly associated with OR of vaccination. At least one adverse effect (AE) was reported by 67.5% of vaccinees, mostly local pain and flu-like symptoms. In a multivariate logistic regression model, with Q-No score, age, gender, and occupation as independent variables, estimated ORs of AE reporting were 2.0 in females vs. males (p <, 0.001) and 1.47 in physicians vs. other HCWs (p = 0.017) independently of age and Q-No score, which were not significantly associated with OR of AE. These findings suggest that nocebo-prone behavior in HCWs is associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination hesitancy indicating a potential benefit of a campaign focused on nocebo-prone people.
- Published
- 2021
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