Risk perceptions and behavioral intentions for Hepatitis B: how do young adults fare?

Abstract

Young adults are at risk for Hepatitis B infection. Little is known about their attitudes and beliefs concerning Hepatitis B, which are determinants of getting immunized. This investigation examined risk perceptions and behavioral intentions concerning Hepatitis B among a convenience sample of 1070 young adults, 18-24 years old who participated in a Hepatitis B campaign that aired a prevention-based advertisement in movies. The campaign did not produce any significant effects. Therefore, analyses presented in this paper explored whether risk perceptions and intentions vary by sociodemographic characteristics. Most young adults do not perceive themselves to be at risk for Hepatitis B, but perceive other people to be at risk. Gender and ethnic differences in behavioral intentions to seek out Hepatitis B information were also observed. This study offers insight about important factors to consider when designing Hepatitis B prevention interventions for young adults and suggests that increasing health-promotion efforts for this group, while accounting for differences in age, culture and gender, are warranted.

Predictors of Hepatitis B Preventive Behavioral Intentions in Healthcare Workers

“…This suggests that focus on risk perceptions is an important component of educational programs aimed to promote preventive behavioral intentions in HCWs. The mean scores of personal risk perception and preventive behavioral intentions in the present study were higher than those reported by Gonzales et al [12] . Different job categories in two studies could be a source of the difference observed in personal risk perceptions.…”

“…The present study was performed to determine key factors in preventive behavior intentions against HB infection in HCWs. Risk perception was the best predictor of preventive behavioral intentions, which was consistent with other studies [12,13] . This suggests that focus on risk perceptions is an important component of educational programs aimed to promote preventive behavioral intentions in HCWs.…”

“…Different job categories in two studies could be a source of the difference observed in personal risk perceptions. The higher level of preventive behavioral intentions in our study may be due to the high-level of knowledge and risk perceptions in participants [12] . The mean knowledge scores of participants in our study was 5.23 (75% of the total knowledge score), which is comparable with a previous study [14] on HCWs.…”

Problem drug use the public health imperative: what some of the literature says

“…The UK's current Hepatitis B vaccination strategy has been based upon the selective targeting of high risk groups [82-84] and despite a rising prevalence amongst injecting drug users and in particular those within prisons this continues to be pursued [85,86] and whilst it is the case that the UK does not experience the high endemicity and chronic carrier numbers present elsewhere [87-89] there is a wealth of evidence that the recommendations made by the WHO in 1992, namely that Hepatitis B should be incorporated into national vaccination programme globally, was not without foundation since vaccination works and is feasible to introduce [90,91] Moreover it also goes some way to address the low risk perception and knowledge which exists, particularly amongst young adults and most worryingly amongst injecting drug users where there was often a dissonance between their perception or belief of their hepatitis status and laboratory virology [92-96]. …”

Hepatitis B Preventive Behavioral Intentions in Healthcare Workers

“…Therefore, there is no doubt that when a simple question was used to ask medical personnel on their hepatitis B status, some persons might give an answer saying that they do not know and do not want to have blood test [3]. To use a simple education or training program might help a little with improvement of risk perception and prevention [4]. “Health beliefs and behaviors relevant to specific populations” seems to be an important consideration [5] and in-depth qualitative research is suggested for planning for increasing hepatitis B preventive behavioral intentions in healthcare workers in different settings.…”