Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40237969›Full record

ArticleJournal of epidemiology and global health2025

Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Vaccination and Clinical Trials Among Saudi University Students.

Sarah Daher, Hana M A Fakhoury, Hani Tamim, Rimah Saleem, Bader Saad Alshammary, Raed Jaber Alzahrani, Nawaf Mohammed Alzahrani, Elias Ali Geraat, Mostafa Abolfotouh, Dunia Jawdat

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of epidemiology and global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sarah DaherCollege of Medicine, Alfaisal University, P.O. Box 50927, 11533, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-2965-8154
Hana M A FakhouryCollege of Medicine, Alfaisal University, P.O. Box 50927, 11533, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. hana.fakhoury@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9974-2108
Hani TamimCollege of Medicine, Alfaisal University, P.O. Box 50927, 11533, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2019-4362
Rimah SaleemCollege of Medicine, Alfaisal University, P.O. Box 50927, 11533, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4654-245X
Bader Saad AlshammaryCollege of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAUHS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Raed Jaber AlzahraniCollege of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAUHS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nawaf Mohammed AlzahraniCollege of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAUHS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Elias Ali GeraatCollege of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAUHS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mostafa AbolfotouhCellular Therapy Research, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3787-429X
Dunia JawdatCellular Therapy Research, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3615-2909

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe implementation of a global COVID-19 vaccination campaign has been one of the most effective interventions in controlling the pandemic. However, vaccine hesitancy remains a major public health challenge, extending to COVID-19 vaccines. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and willingness to participate in clinical trials among Saudi university affiliates.

methodsAn anonymous online questionnaire was distributed between June 2021 and June 2022 to affiliates of four major universities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Attitudes toward vaccination were assessed using the 12-item Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) scale, while attitudes toward clinical trial participation were evaluated through statements rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine associations between vaccine acceptance, clinical trial participation, and demographic factors.

resultsA total of 365 respondents participated in the study. The majority were healthcare students, with most in their fourth academic year. Overall, 50.4% of the study sample exhibited vaccine and clinical trial hesitancy. Females exhibited significantly higher vaccine acceptance than males (P = 0.013), though hesitancy rates were only borderline significant between genders (P = 0.063). Healthcare students had significantly higher vaccine acceptance (P < 0.0001) and greater willingness to participate in clinical trials (P < 0.0001) compared to students from science and humanities disciplines. While most participants believed in vaccine safety and effectiveness, many expressed hesitancy regarding the motivations of pharmaceutical companies. Although attitudes toward clinical trials were generally favorable, only 37.8% expressed willingness to participate, and this figure dropped to 32.9% for COVID-19 vaccine trials. Vaccine acceptors were significantly more likely to be willing to participate in clinical trials (P < 0.0001).

conclusionsUnderstanding university students' perspectives on vaccination and clinical trials can help shape targeted public health campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy. Future research is needed to explore determinants of vaccine hesitancy and barriers to clinical trial participation in this population.

Indexed as

Clinical Trials as TopicCOVID-19COVID-19 VaccinesHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeStudentsVaccinationVaccination HesitancyAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSARS-CoV-2Saudi ArabiaSurveys and QuestionnairesUniversitiesCOVID-19 VaccinesClinical trialCOVID-19Public healthSaudi adult populationVaccineVaccine acceptanceVaccine hesitancy

Identifiers

PMID40237969
PMCPMC12003242

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.