Knowledge, attitudes and practice of primary health care physicians towards hepatitis B virus in Al-Jouf province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

BackgroundPrimary health care (PHC) physicians will be in the forefront of managing hepatitis B (HBV) patients. In Saudi Arabia, very little is known about knowledge, attitudes, and practice of PHC physicians towards HBV. This study aimed to assess the same parameters.MethodsDuring April 2012, a cross-sectional survey of 180 practitioners aged 38.1 ± 10.3 years was carried out in the primary health care centers (PHCCs) in AlJouf Province of Saudi Arabia. The physicians were asked to fill a valid questionnaire containing their sociodemographic data, and well-modified questions regarding their knowledge base, attitudes, and practice towards HBV. Data was processed and analyzed using SPSS (version 17) program, the level of significance was set at P < 0.05.ResultResponse rate 88.3% yielded 159 questionnaires for analysis. Majority of the physicians surveyed 128 (80.6%) believed that PHC physicians are capable to achieve a major role in the management of HBV. 119 (74.8%) physicians surveyed were willing to manage HBV patients and 127 (79.9%) believed that vaccination is the most effective means to prevent HBV. There was a statistical significant correlation between physicians’ qualifications and continuity of care for HBV patients (32.8% vs 23.4%; p = 0.006), while continuality of care was more frequent among physicians with higher degrees compared to graduate physicians. Only 69 (43.4%) physicians were able to interpret HBV seromarkers. The vast majority of the physicians 142 (89.3%) were willing to subscribe in regular training programs about HBV.ConclusionSuitable attitudes with lack of knowledge are found, and practice of our physicians with regard to this significant health issue appeared inappropriate. More education focusing on HBV is recommended.

Medical students’ awareness of and compliance with the hepatitis B vaccine in a tertiary care academic hospital: An epidemiological study

“…Despite this milestone, several Saudi subpopulations, including pregnant women, students in health programs, and health care workers, remain at risk [5,6]. Recent local and regional studies also provide evidence regarding decreased awareness of HBV among several groups in the Saudi community including military personnel [7], primary healthcare physicians [8], and medical students [9,10]; this evidence suggests that compliance with vaccination programs might be significantly related with one's perceptions and misconceptions about HBV and other chronic infectious diseases. A study conducted in King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, which has a high-risk group who have contact with blood and fluids during dental procedures, reported an 80.5% compliance rate for HBV vaccination; however, more than half (57.5%) of those vaccinated were not screened for HBV antibodies [11].…”

Knowledge About Prescribing Antibiotics for Patients With Acute Pharyngitis and Its Associate Factors Among Primary Health Care Physicians at Ministry of Health Makkah Al-Mukarramah City, 2016.

“…However, it did not differ significantly according to having an antibiotics' prescription policy at PHCC or the application of that policy. (Table 5) Table ( 6) shows that participants' knowledge mean scores were significantly higher among those who read about prescribing antibiotics for acute pharyngitis (p=0.003). However, their knowledge did not differ significantly according to attendance CME about antibiotics for acute pharyngitis.…”

“…Regarding knowledge questions (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), a score of 1 was given to right answer which is the first choice for all questions except number 36 the right answer is the second choice. The total score was computed by summation of scores and it was 18, the range was (0-18).…”

“…four categories and the years of experience was divided into three categories based on previous studies. (6) While the patients' flow was divided into three categories and frequency of prescription divided into three categories based on experience. Using SPSS(Statistical Package for the Social sciences) version 21 for data analysis.…”

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Hepatitis B: A Survey among the Internet Users in Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…In Saudi among the healthcare providers lack of knowledge and positive attitudes were documented [10] and the physician's practices to prevent the occupational risks of HBV was inappropriate [11]. Assessment of the medical students' knowledge about the occupational risks of HBV infection showed a deficiency in post-exposure prophylaxis [12].…”