Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward prevention of hepatitis B virus infection among medical students at Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Ali Alhowaish; Jawaher Ali Alhowaish; Yasser Hamoud Alanazi; Muharib Mana Alshammari; Mushref Saeid Alshammari; Nasser Ghadeer Alshamari; Abdulaziz Sael Alshammari; Meshael Kareem Almutairi; Sultan Abdullah Algarni

doi:10.19082/5388

Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward prevention of hepatitis B virus infection among medical students at Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Electron Physician. 2017 Sep 25;9(9):5388-5394. doi: 10.19082/5388. eCollection 2017 Sep.

Authors

Mohammed Ali Alhowaish¹, Jawaher Ali Alhowaish², Yasser Hamoud Alanazi³, Muharib Mana Alshammari³, Mushref Saeid Alshammari³, Nasser Ghadeer Alshamari³, Abdulaziz Sael Alshammari³, Meshael Kareem Almutairi⁴, Sultan Abdullah Algarni⁵

Affiliations

¹ Intern, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
² Resident, Department of Family Medicine, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia.
³ Student, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Intern, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Finished Internship, Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Altaif University, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 29038726
PMCID: PMC5633242
DOI: 10.19082/5388

Abstract

Background and aim: Health care workers' risk of occupational exposure to HBV is a chief concern, particularly with young students in the health profession. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge regarding symptoms, risk factors and prevention of hepatitis B virus infection among medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 01, 2016 to May 30, 2017 on medical students at the Northern Border University (Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Data were collected from 200 students from all academic years using pre-designed questionnaire which included questions designed to fulfill the study objectives.

Results: Regarding students' knowledge about hepatitis B infection, 81% of them knew that carriers could transmit infection, 89.5% of them knew that it could not be spread by casual contact, 80% by contact with open wound, 96.5% by contaminated blood and body fluids, 92.5% by unsterilized syringe, needle and surgical instruments and 79.5% by unsafe sex. In total, 86.5% of students knew that a vaccine could prevent HBV infection, 95% knew it had been laboratory tested, 64% knew HBV had post exposure prophylaxis and only 55% knew that it could be cured. In all, 75.5% of students knew that HBV caused liver cancer. Regarding attitude, 23% of students said they had no concern of being infected with HBV, 86.5% agreed that HBV vaccine was safe and effective and 90% believed that following infection, control guidelines would protect them from being infected by HBV at work. Regarding practice, only 56.5% of students had screened for HBV infection 22% had had a needle prick injury but 68% would report that injury. Furthermore, 69.5% have received HBV vaccine but only 38% of them had received 3 doses.

Conclusion: The students' knowledge of the hepatitis B virus was found to be good. We recommend improving knowledge, attitude and practice of the public as well as students, through health education campaigns and settings.

Keywords: Arar; Hepatitis B; Knowledge; Medical student; Northern Border University; Saudi Arabia.