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KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS TOWARD PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS C INFECTION.

This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge of healthcare workers
in Kutahya (a western province of Turkey) about HCV infection and their attitudes
toward patients with hepatitis C infection. A total of 335 healthcare workers
working in Kutahya Evliya Celebi Research and Training Hospital were included
in the study. A questionnaire evaluating demographic characteristics, level of
knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers toward patients with hepatitis C
infection was administered to the participants. Thirty-six point four percent of
the participants were males. According to the occupations, distributions of the
participants were as followings: 54.6% nurse, 25.1% physician, 11.6% trainee nurse,
4.5% intern and 4.2% anesthesia technician. The mean age of healthcare professionals
was 30.32±8.10 years. Fifty-eight point eight percent of them experienced
percutaneous injury. The mean knowledge score was 18.05±3.01 (from a total of
25). There was a statistically significant relationship between knowledge score
and age, working year, occupational group (p<0.001). There was also a significant
relationship between total attitude score and gender (p=0.006), age (p=0.002),
working year (p=0.021) and occupational group (p<0.001). It was determined
that as total knowledge score of the participants increased they exhibited a more
positive attitude toward patients with hepatitis C infection (p<0.001). A positive
relationship was determined between the level of knowledge of healthcare workers
and positive attitudes toward patients with hepatitis C infection. Therefore,
increasing the level of knowledge is necessary for more positive attitudes.