Effect of Taking COVID 19 Vaccine On Nurses’ Fear from Infection and Their Adherence to Preventive Measures

Abstract

High level of nurses' fear of getting infected with COVID–19 leads to increase distress, lower job satisfaction, decreased health perceptions, and increased turnover intention. This study aims to compare the follow of standard precautionary measures and level of fear of Saudi nurses in dialysis units from acquired COVID-19 infection, before and after patients vaccination. Methods: descriptive cross-sectional study was used. Thirty-three Saudi nurses from dialysis units in Sakaka city participated in our study. Study tools; demographic data, fear of COVID-19 Scale, and questioner about '5 moments of hand washing, and wearing PPE. Results: The study found before vaccination, 54.5% of nurses reported extreme fear of getting acquired COVID-19 infection while only 15.5% reported fear after vaccination. There was a negative relationship between fear from infection and  educational level, before and after vaccination. Also, negative relation was found between level of fear and years of experience before vaccination while positive relation was noted after vaccination. Conclusions: after vaccination the nurses' fear level decreased but still within normal level. Both level of education and years of experience played a major role in nurses' fear levels, following hand hygiene, and wearing PPE.