Effect of Implementing Virtual Educational Sessions on Nursing Students’ Knowledge, Attitude and Hesitancy Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 vaccination is the hopeful savior to curb the pandemic. One of the most urgent issues facing public health officials is vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy persists despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations because of ignorance and unfavorable attitudes. This study evaluated the effect of virtual educational sessions on nursing students’ knowledge, attitude, and hesitancy regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Method: A quasi-experimental research design was used to recruit 350 undergraduate nursing students from each academic level using a convenience sampling technique. A self-administrative structured questionnaire was utilized to evaluate the nursing students’ knowledge, attitude, and hesitancy regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Results: The mean of the total correct knowledge scores and the total negative attitudes scores regarding COVID-19 vaccination among the studied undergraduate nursing students improved from (13.82±5.08 & 36.38±7.03 respectively) pre-implementation of the virtual educational sessions to (35.59±2.62 & 17.6±5.13 respectively) post-implementation. The total vaccine hesitancy improved from (34.3% doubtful & 14.6% strongly hesitant) pre the implementation of the virtual educational sessions to (11.4% & 3.2% respectively) post-implementation. Conclusion: The educational sessions had positive effect on undergraduate nursing students’ knowledge, attitude, and hesitancy regarding COVID-19 Vaccination. Recommendation: Integration of the virtual educational sessions regarding COVID-19 vaccination into the curricula of educational nursing institutions.