Predictors of nursing students’ intention to receive COVID-19 vaccination: A multi-university study in Saudi Arabia

Aims: This study examined the predictors of student nurses’ intention to vaccinate against COVID-19. We measured the nursing students’ risk perceptions, anxiety, fears and beliefs on COVID-19 vaccine; attitudes towards it and vaccine literacy (VL). Design: This study is a multi-university study utilizing the quantitative, cross-sectional and predictive approach. Methods: Using convenience sampling (n = 1170), we surveyed 10 Saudi universities from November 26, 2020, to December 31, 2020. Forward stepwise multinomial logistic regression was performed in identifying the factors predicting student nurses’ intention to vaccinate against COVID-19. Results: The overall mean in the risk perception, anxiety and fear was 9.59 (SD = 2.82, possible range = 1–15), 3.95 (SD = 4.77, possible range = 0–20) and 18.17 (SD = 6.65, possible range = 7–35) respectively. They also reported a mean of 29.90 (SD = 6.56, possible range = 8–40) on COVID-19 belief. COVID-19 positive and negative attitudes mean score was 3.64 (SD = 0.92) and 2.72 (SD = 0.90) in a 1–4 range of scores respectively. The functional and interactive-critical COVID-19 VL of the students were at moderate levels. More than half of the respondents (55.9%) intended to be vaccinated against COVID-19, 17.6% did not intend to do so and 26.5% were unsure. High-risk perceptions, low levels of COVID-19 anxiety, positive beliefs and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine, and high levels of interactive-critical COVID-19 VL were significant predictors of student nurses’ intentions to vaccinate against COVID-19. Conclusion: Policymakers could consider the factors identified in this study and why the students did not intend to receive the vaccine in planning a nationwide vaccination program. The colleges of nursing could also utilize the findings in developing educational programs that aim to improve VL and beliefs and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine.