Table 3.
Demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related experience, and COVID-19 vaccine willingness and its drivers among a global sample of dental students, February 2021 (n = 6639).
| Variable | Outcome | Frequency (n) | Percentage (%) | Cumulative Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic Characterstics | ||||
| Gender | Female | 4682 | 70.5% | 70.5% |
| Male | 1836 | 27.7% | 98.2% | |
| Non-binary | 53 | 0.8% | 99% | |
| Prefer not to say | 68 | 1% | 100% | |
| Academic Level | First Year | 979 | 14.7% | 14.7% |
| Second Year | 1227 | 18.5% | 33.2% | |
| Third Year | 1422 | 21.4% | 54.6% | |
| Fourth Year | 1259 | 19% | 73.6% | |
| Fifth Year | 817 | 12.3% | 85.9% | |
| Sixth Year | 240 | 3.6% | 89.5% | |
| Internship/Fresh Graduate | 695 | 10.5% | 100% | |
| Clinical Training | Pre-clinical Stage | 2206 | 33.2% | 33.2% |
| Clinical Stage | 4433 | 66.8% | 100% | |
| Economic Level | Low-income Country | 467 | 7% | 7% |
| Lowe-middle-income Country | 1232 | 18.6% | 25.6% | |
| Upper-middle-income Country | 3035 | 45.7% | 71.3% | |
| High-income Country | 1905 | 28.7% | 100% | |
| COVID-19-Related Experience | ||||
| Prior Infection | Yes | 1105 | 16.6% | 16.6% |
| No | 5534 | 83.4% | 100% | |
| Providing Care | Yes | 1808 | 27.2% | 27.2% |
| No | 4831 | 72.8% | 100% | |
| Knowing Patient | Yes | 5801 | 87.4% | 87.4% |
| No | 838 | 12.6% | 100% | |
| Knowing Dead | Yes | 3031 | 45.7% | 45.7% |
| No | 3608 | 54.3% | 100% | |
| Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Vaccine | ||||
| I am willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available to me. | Totally Disagree | 491 | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| Disagree | 434 | 6.5% | 13.9% | |
| Not Sure | 1494 | 22.5% | 36.4% | |
| Agree | 1495 | 22.5% | 59% | |
| Totally Agree | 2725 | 41% | 100% | |
| Contextual Drivers | ||||
| Do reports you hear/read in the media/on social media make you re-consider the choice to take the COVID-19 vaccine? | No | 2903 | 43.7% | 43.7% |
| Not Sure | 1519 | 22.9% | 66.6% | |
| Yes | 2217 | 33.4% | 100% | |
| Do celebrities, religious or political leaders influence your decision about being vaccinated? | No | 4734 | 71.3% | 71.3% |
| Not Sure | 827 | 12.5% | 83.8% | |
| Yes | 1078 | 16.2% | 100% | |
| Do you trust that your government is making decisions in your best interest with respect to what vaccines are provided? | No | 2178 | 32.8% | 32.8% |
| Not Sure | 2130 | 32.1% | 64.9% | |
| Yes | 2331 | 35.1% | 100% | |
| Do you trust pharmaceutical companies to provide credible data on COVID-19 vaccine safety and the effectiveness of the vaccines? | No | 1448 | 21.8% | 21.8% |
| Not Sure | 2041 | 30.7% | 52.6% | |
| Yes | 3150 | 47.4% | 100% | |
| Do you know anyone who will not take the vaccine because of religious or cultural values? | No | 4286 | 64.6% | 64.6% |
| Not Sure | 830 | 12.5% | 77.1% | |
| Yes | 1523 | 22.9% | 100% | |
| If “Yes”, do you agree with these people? | No | 6260 | 94.3% | 94.3% |
| Not Sure | 192 | 2.9% | 97.2% | |
| Yes | 187 | 2.8% | 100% | |
| Individual/Group Drivers | ||||
| Do you think that there are better ways to prevent COVID-19 than using vaccines? | No | 2928 | 44.1% | 44.1% |
| Not Sure | 1955 | 29.4% | 73.6% | |
| Yes | 1756 | 26.4% | 100% | |
| Do you feel you have enough information about COVID-19 vaccines and their safety? | No | 2710 | 40.8% | 40.8% |
| Not Sure | 1838 | 27.7% | 68.5% | |
| Yes | 2091 | 31.5% | 100% | |
| Vaccine-Specific Drivers | ||||
| Do you think that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh their reported side effects/adverse reactions? | No | 1188 | 17.9% | 17.9% |
| Not Sure | 2082 | 31.4% | 49.3% | |
| Yes | 3369 | 50.7% | 100% | |
| In general, when a new vaccine is introduced, are you inclined to consent to your vaccination? | No | 1606 | 24.2% | 24.2% |
| Not Sure | 2162 | 32.6% | 56.8% | |
| Yes | 2871 | 43.2% | 100% | |
| Do you feel confident that the health center or doctor’s office will have the COVID-19 vaccines you need, when you need them? | No | 1778 | 26.8% | 26.8% |
| Not Sure | 2158 | 32.5% | 59.3% | |
| Yes | 2703 | 40.7% | 100% | |