An Exploratory Investigation of Representations of Herpes Zoster and Adjuvanted Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccination in a Sample of Fragile Adults in Italy

In the context of the Italian National Herpes Zoster Vaccine program, an exploratory survey was conducted on a sample of fragile adult patients to investigate the representations of the disease and its prevention to build future local vaccination campaigns. An ad hoc questionnaire was administered t...

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Main Authors: Francesco De Caro, Nadia Pecoraro, Mario Capunzo, Simona Caruccio, Filippo Caggiano, Giuseppina Cersosimo, Maria Costantino, Walter Longanella, Francesca Malatesta, Matteo Tomeo, Giulia Savarese, Pio Sinopoli, Emilia Anna Vozzella, Giuseppina Moccia
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Pathogens
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/2/145
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author Francesco De Caro
Nadia Pecoraro
Mario Capunzo
Simona Caruccio
Filippo Caggiano
Giuseppina Cersosimo
Maria Costantino
Walter Longanella
Francesca Malatesta
Matteo Tomeo
Giulia Savarese
Pio Sinopoli
Emilia Anna Vozzella
Giuseppina Moccia
author_facet Francesco De Caro
Nadia Pecoraro
Mario Capunzo
Simona Caruccio
Filippo Caggiano
Giuseppina Cersosimo
Maria Costantino
Walter Longanella
Francesca Malatesta
Matteo Tomeo
Giulia Savarese
Pio Sinopoli
Emilia Anna Vozzella
Giuseppina Moccia
author_sort Francesco De Caro
collection DOAJ
description In the context of the Italian National Herpes Zoster Vaccine program, an exploratory survey was conducted on a sample of fragile adult patients to investigate the representations of the disease and its prevention to build future local vaccination campaigns. An ad hoc questionnaire was administered to 271 fragile adult patients who had adjuvanted recombinant Herpes Zoster vaccination to detect the following: knowledge and perception of the disease and its risks; information sources and confidence in the information sources used; and perception of the Herpes Zoster vaccination. Fragile adult patients have the representation of Herpes Zoster as a serious disease (86.5%), and they consider themselves informed concerning symptoms and health effects. Women are more fearful of the impact of the disease (Chi-square = 10.03; DF = 3; <i>p</i>-value = 0.018), while those with a higher average age consider themselves less informed (R = −158; <i>p</i>-value = 0.039). The sources of information that contributed to the construction of illness representation are health personnel (73.5%), followed by the web and social web (14.7%), and media such as radio and TV (10.0%). Regarding the vaccine representation, fragile patients are confident about the vaccine and the science behind it and believe everyone should receive it. However, a high percentage (62.9%) fear side effects. Our analysis highlights that vaccination campaigns must be planned based on the target audience, individual and contextual needs, and representations of the disease, particularly when dealing with frail patients, to implement effective preventive interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-c545d7d708394c33b87bfa84213354ee2025-08-20T02:03:32ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-02-0114214510.3390/pathogens14020145An Exploratory Investigation of Representations of Herpes Zoster and Adjuvanted Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccination in a Sample of Fragile Adults in ItalyFrancesco De Caro0Nadia Pecoraro1Mario Capunzo2Simona Caruccio3Filippo Caggiano4Giuseppina Cersosimo5Maria Costantino6Walter Longanella7Francesca Malatesta8Matteo Tomeo9Giulia Savarese10Pio Sinopoli11Emilia Anna Vozzella12Giuseppina Moccia13Public Health Laboratory for the Analysis of Community Health Needs, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyPublic Health Laboratory for the Analysis of Community Health Needs, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyHospital San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona, 84131 Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Political and Social Studies, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyHospital San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona, 84131 Salerno, ItalyPublic Health Laboratory for the Analysis of Community Health Needs, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyHospital San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d’Aragona, 84131 Salerno, ItalyPublic Health Laboratory for the Analysis of Community Health Needs, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi Campus, 84081 Baronissi, ItalyIn the context of the Italian National Herpes Zoster Vaccine program, an exploratory survey was conducted on a sample of fragile adult patients to investigate the representations of the disease and its prevention to build future local vaccination campaigns. An ad hoc questionnaire was administered to 271 fragile adult patients who had adjuvanted recombinant Herpes Zoster vaccination to detect the following: knowledge and perception of the disease and its risks; information sources and confidence in the information sources used; and perception of the Herpes Zoster vaccination. Fragile adult patients have the representation of Herpes Zoster as a serious disease (86.5%), and they consider themselves informed concerning symptoms and health effects. Women are more fearful of the impact of the disease (Chi-square = 10.03; DF = 3; <i>p</i>-value = 0.018), while those with a higher average age consider themselves less informed (R = −158; <i>p</i>-value = 0.039). The sources of information that contributed to the construction of illness representation are health personnel (73.5%), followed by the web and social web (14.7%), and media such as radio and TV (10.0%). Regarding the vaccine representation, fragile patients are confident about the vaccine and the science behind it and believe everyone should receive it. However, a high percentage (62.9%) fear side effects. Our analysis highlights that vaccination campaigns must be planned based on the target audience, individual and contextual needs, and representations of the disease, particularly when dealing with frail patients, to implement effective preventive interventions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/2/145Herpes Zosterillness representationsvaccinationhospital vaccinationfragile patientsvaccinal campaigns
spellingShingle Francesco De Caro
Nadia Pecoraro
Mario Capunzo
Simona Caruccio
Filippo Caggiano
Giuseppina Cersosimo
Maria Costantino
Walter Longanella
Francesca Malatesta
Matteo Tomeo
Giulia Savarese
Pio Sinopoli
Emilia Anna Vozzella
Giuseppina Moccia
An Exploratory Investigation of Representations of Herpes Zoster and Adjuvanted Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccination in a Sample of Fragile Adults in Italy
Pathogens
Herpes Zoster
illness representations
vaccination
hospital vaccination
fragile patients
vaccinal campaigns
title An Exploratory Investigation of Representations of Herpes Zoster and Adjuvanted Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccination in a Sample of Fragile Adults in Italy
title_full An Exploratory Investigation of Representations of Herpes Zoster and Adjuvanted Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccination in a Sample of Fragile Adults in Italy
title_fullStr An Exploratory Investigation of Representations of Herpes Zoster and Adjuvanted Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccination in a Sample of Fragile Adults in Italy
title_full_unstemmed An Exploratory Investigation of Representations of Herpes Zoster and Adjuvanted Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccination in a Sample of Fragile Adults in Italy
title_short An Exploratory Investigation of Representations of Herpes Zoster and Adjuvanted Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccination in a Sample of Fragile Adults in Italy
title_sort exploratory investigation of representations of herpes zoster and adjuvanted recombinant herpes zoster vaccination in a sample of fragile adults in italy
topic Herpes Zoster
illness representations
vaccination
hospital vaccination
fragile patients
vaccinal campaigns
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/2/145
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