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Prezerakos P, Dadouli K, Agapidaki E, Kravvari CM, Avakian I, Peristeri AM, Anagnostopoulos L, Mouchtouri VA, Fountoulakis KN, Koupidis S, Hadjichristodoulou C. Behavioral and Cultural Insights, a Nationwide Study Based on Repetitive Surveys of WHO Behavioral Insights Tool in Greece Regarding COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccine Acceptance. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 20:216. [PMID: 36612538 PMCID: PMC9819918 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring behavioral and cultural insights during the pandemic is a useful tool to identify factors related to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and confront the pandemic’s vast impact. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed according to the “survey tool and guidance” provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Surveys were conducted by a market research company for five consecutive months, with a sample of 1000 individuals recruited per survey. Vaccination acceptance increased from 55.2% to 67.2%, while the percentage of undecisive individuals decreased from 16.3% to 10.6%. The proportion of vaccine resistant participants remained relatively steady (25−30%). Knowledge about the pandemic and compliance with preventive measures was high (>90%). Factors associated with vaccination included: Increased age, male gender, influenza vaccination, following authorities’ recommendations, being informed by HCWs or formal information sources, care for others, concern about the country’s economic recession and health system overload. Pandemic fatigue was reflected across the surveys, indicated by a decrease in the intention to self-isolate and remain at home when ill. Despite the decrease of undecisive individuals, a firm core of vaccine resistant individuals may be responsible for the relatively lower vaccine coverage compared to northern EU countries. Study results could be useful for developing approaches tailored to a reluctant population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katerina Dadouli
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
| | - Eirini Agapidaki
- Secretary General of Public Health, Ministry of Health, 10433 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Ioanna Avakian
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
| | - Athanasia-Marina Peristeri
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
| | - Lemonia Anagnostopoulos
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
| | - Varvara A. Mouchtouri
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
| | - Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis
- 3rd Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sotirios Koupidis
- Occupational and Environmental Health Sector, Public Health Policy Department, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
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Kakkas I, Tsinti G, Kalala F, Farmaki E, Kourakli A, Kapousouzi A, Dimou M, Kalaitzidou V, Sevdali E, Peristeri AM, Tsiouma G, Patiou P, Papadimitriou E, Vassilakopoulos TP, Panayiotidis P, Kioumi A, Symeonidis A, Speletas M. TACI Mutations in Primary Antibody Deficiencies: A Nationwide Study in Greece. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 57:medicina57080827. [PMID: 34441032 PMCID: PMC8401742 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57080827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background and objectives: Monoallelic (heterozygous) or biallelic (homozygous or compound heterozygous) TACI mutations have been reported as the most common genetic defects in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), which is the most common clinically significant primary immunodeficiency in humans. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and any correlations of TACI defects in Greek patients with primary antibody deficiencies. Materials and Methods: 117 patients (male/female: 53/64) with CVID (110) and a combined IgA and IgG subclass deficiency (7) with a CVID-like clinical phenotype were enrolled in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the molecular analysis of the TACI gene was performed by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and sequencing of all 5 exons, including exon–intron boundaries. Results: Seventeen patients (14.5%) displayed TACI defects, four (23.5%) carried combined heterozygous mutations and 13 (76.5%) carried single heterozygous mutations. The most frequently detected mutation was C104R (58.8%), followed by I87N (23.5%) and A181E (11.8%), while R20C, C62Y, P151L, K188M and E236X mutations were present in only one patient each. Patients with TACI defects were more frequently male (p = 0.011) and displayed a benign lymphoproliferation (splenomegaly and lymph node enlargement, p = 0.047 and p = 0.002, respectively), had a history of tonsillectomy (p = 0.015) and adenoidectomy (p = 0.031) and more frequently exhibited autoimmune cytopenias (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Considering that accumulating evidence suggests several CVID patients have a complex rather than a monogenic inheritance, our data further support the notion that TACI mutations, particularly as monoallelic defects, should be primarily considered as susceptibility co-factors and/or modifiers of primary antibody deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Kakkas
- Immunology and Histocompatibility Department, “Evaggelismos” General Hospital, 106 76 Athens, Greece;
| | - Gerasimina Tsinti
- Department of Immunology & Histocompatibility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 415 00 Larissa, Greece; (G.T.); (A.K.); (E.S.); (A.-M.P.)
| | - Fani Kalala
- Hematology Department, Henry Dunant Hospital, 115 26 Athens, Greece;
| | - Evangelia Farmaki
- Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology Referral Center, First Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.F.); (E.P.)
| | - Alexandra Kourakli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology Division, Medical School—University Hospital, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece; (A.K.); (P.P.); (A.S.)
| | - Androniki Kapousouzi
- Department of Immunology & Histocompatibility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 415 00 Larissa, Greece; (G.T.); (A.K.); (E.S.); (A.-M.P.)
| | - Maria Dimou
- Hematology Section, First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, “Laikon” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece; (M.D.); (P.P.)
| | - Vassiliki Kalaitzidou
- Department of Hematology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, 564 29 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.K.); (A.K.)
| | - Eirini Sevdali
- Department of Immunology & Histocompatibility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 415 00 Larissa, Greece; (G.T.); (A.K.); (E.S.); (A.-M.P.)
| | - Athanasia-Marina Peristeri
- Department of Immunology & Histocompatibility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 415 00 Larissa, Greece; (G.T.); (A.K.); (E.S.); (A.-M.P.)
| | - Georgia Tsiouma
- ENT Department, “Achillopoulion” General Hospital of Volos, 382 21 Volos, Greece;
| | - Peristera Patiou
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology Division, Medical School—University Hospital, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece; (A.K.); (P.P.); (A.S.)
| | - Eleni Papadimitriou
- Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology Referral Center, First Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece; (E.F.); (E.P.)
| | - Theodoros P. Vassilakopoulos
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, “Laikon” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece;
| | - Panayiotis Panayiotidis
- Hematology Section, First Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, “Laikon” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece; (M.D.); (P.P.)
| | - Anna Kioumi
- Department of Hematology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, 564 29 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.K.); (A.K.)
| | - Argiris Symeonidis
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology Division, Medical School—University Hospital, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece; (A.K.); (P.P.); (A.S.)
| | - Matthaios Speletas
- Department of Immunology & Histocompatibility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 415 00 Larissa, Greece; (G.T.); (A.K.); (E.S.); (A.-M.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-241-350-2173; Fax: +30-241-068-5687
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