Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Medical Students Regarding the Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Control Measures at Qassim University

Authors

  • Osama Al Wutayd Assistant Professor of Community Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
  • Abdullah AlRehaili Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
  • Khaled AlSafrani AlSafrani Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
  • Abdulrahman Abalkhail Medical Intern, Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
  • Sulaiman Mohammed AlEidi Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.118

Keywords:

Medical students, Hepatitis virus infection, Occupational health hazards, University education, hepatitis B virus

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Medical students are exposed to occupational health hazards in hospitals during their studies and lack sufficient education about infection control measures. Injury to medical students is a substantial problem and students have an increased risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV). To understand how medical students think about infection control, it is important to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their education.

AIM: To assess current knowledge, attitudes, and practice of medical students regarding HBV infection and control measures at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical college. Participants completed a 39-item self-administered questionnaire assessing demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practice. Item response frequencies were calculated. Responses were recorded into yes (strongly agree and agree) and no (neutral, disagree, and strongly disagree) answers. Correct responses were totalled and categorised as good or poor performance. A scale cut-off of less than 75% correct responses was considered poor, and 75% or more correct responses was considered good. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and the chi-square test was used for analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 21%, 41%, and 8% of students expressed good knowledge, attitudes, and practice, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females on knowledge (p = 0.089), attitudes (p = 0.829), and practice (p = 0.248). There was a statistically significant difference between academic years on knowledge (p = 0.0001), attitudes (p = 0.0001), and practice (p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: Most medical students have poor knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding the risk of HBV infection. It is recommended that a policy is implemented for training on infection prevention for all medical students before they start clinical practice. Prevention programs about HBV infection should be instituted, and existing programs must be strengthened.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Plum Analytics Artifact Widget Block

References

Cheng HC, Su CY, Yen AMF, Huang CF. Factors affecting occupational exposure to needlestick and sharps injuries among dentists in Taiwan: a nationwide survey. PLoS One. 2012; 7:e34911.†https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0034911 PMid:22509367 PMCid:PMC3318009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0034911

Prüss-Ustün A, Rapiti E, Hutin Y. Estimation of the global burden of disease attributable to contaminated sharps injuries among health-care workers. Am J Ind Med. 2005; 48:482-90. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20230 PMid:16299710 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20230

O'Connor MB. Needlestick injury advice in the UK and Ireland. J Hosp Infect. 2009; 71:185-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2008.11.004 PMid:19070938 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2008.11.004

Memish ZA, Assiri AM, Eldalatony MM, Hathout HM, Alzoman H, et al. Risk analysis of needle stick and sharp object injuries among health care workers in a tertiary care hospital (Saudi Arabia). J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2013; 3:123-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2013.03.004 PMid:23932054 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2013.03.004

Deisenhammer S, Radon K, Nowak D, Reichert J. Needlestick injuries during medical training. J Hosp Infect. 2006; 63:263-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2006.01.019 PMid:16650505 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2006.01.019

Reda AA, Fisseha S, Mengistie B, Vandeweerd JM. Standard precautions: occupational exposure and behavior of health care workers in Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2010; 5:e14420. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0014420 PMid:21203449 PMCid:PMC3009714 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0014420

Gerberding JL. Clinical practice. Occupational exposure to HIV in health care settings. N Engl J Med. 2003; 348:826-33. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp020892 PMid:12606738 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp020892

Talaat M, Kandeel A, El-Shoubary W, Bodenschatz C, Khairy I, et al. Occupational exposure to needlestick injuries and hepatitis B vaccination coverage among health care workers in Egypt. Am J Infect Control. 2003; 31:469-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2003.03.003 PMid:14647109 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2003.03.003

Bell DM. Occupational risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection in healthcare workers: an overview. Am J Med. 1997; 102:9-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9343(97)89441-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9343(97)89441-7

Doebbeling BN, Vaughn TE, McCoy KD, Beekmann SE, Woolson RF, et al. Percutaneous injury, blood exposure, and adherence to standard precautions: are hospital-based health care providers still at risk? Clin Infect Dis. 2003; 37:1006-13. https://doi.org/10.1086/377535 PMid:14523763 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/377535

Beltrami EM, Williams IT, Shapiro CN, Chamberland ME. Risk and management of blood-borne infections in health care workers. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2000; 13:385-407. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.13.3.385 PMid:10885983 PMCid:PMC88939 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.13.3.385

Baymakova M, Popov G, Andonova R, Pishmisheva M, Pepovich R, Zaekov N, et al. Hepatitis B virus infection: general characteristics and prevention. General Medicine. 2018; 20(3):40–46.

Raad II, Chaftari AM, Torres HA, Ayoub EM, Narouz LI, Bartek J, et al. Challenge of hepatitis C in Egypt and hepatitis B in Mauritania. World J Hepatol. 2018; 10(9):549–557. https://doi.org/10.4254/wjh.v10.i9.549 PMid:30310533 PMCid:PMC6177572 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4254/wjh.v10.i9.549

Naveira MCM, Badal K, Dhakal J, Mayer NA, Pokharel B, Del Prado RF. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C in Nepal: a systematic review (1973-2017). Hepatol Med Policy. 2018; 3:10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41124-018-0039-2 PMid:30288333 PMCid:PMC6126038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41124-018-0039-2

Huang Y, Xie W, Zeng J, Law F, Ba-Thein W. Limited knowledge and practice of Chinese medical students regarding health-care associated infections. The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries. 2013; 7:144-51.†https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.3099 PMid:23416661 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.3099

Hamadah R, Kharraz R, Alshanqity A, AlFawaz D, Eshaq AM, Abu-Zaid A. Hand hygiene: knowledge and attitudes of fourth-year clerkship medical students at Alfaisal University, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 2015; 7:e310. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.310 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.310

Yonatan M, Kelemu, T. Assessment of knowledge and practice towards hepatitis B among medical and health science students in Haramaya University, Ethiopia. PloS One. 2013; 8:e79642. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079642 PMid:24278151 PMCid:PMC3836877 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079642

Abdela A, Woldu B, Haile K, Mathewos B, Deressa T. Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices toward prevention of hepatitis B virus infection among students of medicine and health sciences in Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Research Notes. 2016; 9:410. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-016-2216-y PMid:27543117 PMCid:PMC4992214 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-016-2216-y

Ibrahim AA, Elshafie SS. Knowledge, awareness, and attitude regarding infection prevention and control among medical students: a call for educational intervention. Advances in Medical Education and Practice. 2016; 7:505-10. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S109830 PMid:27579002 PMCid:PMC5001551 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S109830

Al-Hazmi A. Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of medical students regarding occupational risks of hepatitis B virus in College of Medicine, Aljouf University. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research. 2015; 5:13-9. https://doi.org/10.4103/2141-9248.149765 PMid:25745570 PMCid:PMC4350056 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/2141-9248.149765

Atlam SA, Elsabagh HM, Shehab NS. Knowledge, attitude and practice of Tanta University medical students towards hepatitis B and C. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. 2016; 4:749-56. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20160512 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20160512

Alhowaish MA, Alhowaish JA, Alanazi YH, Alshammari MM, Alshammari MS, Alshamari NG, Alshammari AS, Almutairi MK, Algarni SA. Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward prevention of hepatitis B virus infection among medical students at Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Electronic physician. 2017; 9(9):5388. https://doi.org/10.19082/5388 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19082/5388

PMid:29038726 PMCid:PMC5633242

Aldeen AMZ, et al. KAP Study for prevention of HBV infection among medical students in Hail Region, Saudi Arabia. Int J Med Res. 2017; 3;31-5.

Motamed N, Baba Mahmoodi F, Khalilian A, Peykanheirati M, Nozari M. Knowledge and practices of health care workers and medical students towards universal precautions in hospitals in Mazandaran Province. 2006; 12:653-61.

Saleh, Abubakir, Othman, Samir. Knowledge about hepatitis B infection among medical students in Erbil city, Iraq. Proceedings of 1st Eurasian Multidisciplinary forum. 2013; 3:299-304.

Published

2019-02-10

How to Cite

1.
Al Wutayd O, AlRehaili A, AlSafrani KA, Abalkhail A, AlEidi SM. Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Medical Students Regarding the Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Control Measures at Qassim University. Open Access Maced J Med Sci [Internet]. 2019 Feb. 10 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];7(3):435-9. Available from: https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/oamjms.2019.118

Issue

Section

E - Public Health