Panchal, Yachana
(2022)
COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Among Patients with Schizophrenia.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Background. Schizophrenia spectrum disorder patients at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital Comprehensive Recovery Services outpatient clinic are sometimes prescribed specialty medications, including clozapine and other long-acting injectables (LAIs), that entail clinical interventions through a nursing supported medication clinic. While clozapine is the gold standard for treatment resistant schizophrenia, this antipsychotic is associated with increased susceptibility to infections like pneumonia, making this group at high-risk for COVID-19. Thus, this project is important to public health because gathering information about the vaccination rate among this group is the first step ensure adequate vaccination.
Objective. The objectives of this paper are 1) to assess the number of schizophrenia patients who are fully vaccinated at the specialty Medication clinic, 2) to examine the association between demographic and clinical factors and COVID-19 vaccination status, and 3) to compare COVID-19 vaccination rates against influenza vaccination rates.
Methods. Data about COVID-19 vaccination status was obtained using PA-SIIS. Information about demographics and co-morbidities was obtained through chart review. Two-sample t-tests and chi-squared tests of association were used to determine the association between demographic and clinical factors and COVID-19 vaccination status. Statistical analysis was done using SAS.
Results. 70.2% of the sample, patients with schizophrenia on clozapine, was fully vaccinated against COVID-19. There were no associations between demographic variables and co-morbidities and COVID-19 vaccination status. The vaccination rate of this sample was similar to that of the general population in Allegheny County.
Conclusion. The COVID-19 vaccination rate was not expected to be as high as it was, but it could be attributed to the efforts made by healthcare providers, caregivers, the Medical Clinic model, and public health programs. However, there should still be continued efforts to increase the vaccination rate in this vulnerable population through implementation of public health measures.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
| Creators | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Panchal, Yachana | yhp1@pitt.edu | yhp1 | |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Goundappa, Balasubramani | balagk@edc.pitt.edu | balagk | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Tatar, Janina-Marie | tartarj@upmc.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Gannon, Jessica | gannonjm@upmc.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
17 May 2022 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Submission Date: |
22 April 2022 |
| Access Restriction: |
2 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 2 years. |
| Number of Pages: |
38 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Epidemiology |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
COVID-19, vaccination, schizophrenia |
| Date Deposited: |
17 May 2022 22:18 |
| Last Modified: |
17 May 2024 05:15 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/42706 |
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