Information-Sharing Reduces Anxiety Towards Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 in Patients With Autoimmune Liver Disease

Abstract

Background: Patients with autoimmune liver disease may feel anxiety towards vaccination for Severe Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 because of insufficient data regarding its efficacy and adverse effects. The aim of this study was to study how information-sharing regarding coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) affects anxiety towards the vaccine in patients with autoimmune liver disease.Methods: Information about COVID-19 and its vaccines provided to subjects with autoimmune liver disease, and change of anxiety to the vaccines after information-sharing were prospectively evaluated.Results: Seventy-one patients prospectively and consecutively registered between March 2021 and May 2021 were assessed. Information-sharing decreased patient anxiety scores towards vaccination from 46 to 23 (p < 0.01). A beneficial effect of information-sharing was confirmed via a visual analog scale (VAS). The correlation of VAS before information-sharing to change of VAS during the study was negative (rho = −0.405, p = 0.00046). There was no significant difference regarding the comparison of VAS to age, or medication use. Conclusion: Information-sharing improved anxiety towards vaccination in patients with autoimmune liver disease, especially in patients who felt strong anxiety before information-sharing.