IJSSRR Article

2022

Introduction: Hepatitis B has become significant health problem globally leading to substantial morbidity and mortality, thus causing enormous burden on the health care system. Once, these infections progress to chronic phase then further complication arise like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (H.C.C). Aim: The aim of study was to assess the awareness of Hepatitis B in patients suffering from it and reporting for treatment at Model treatment Centre (MTC), PGIMS, Rohtak. Material and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted over a period of five years i.e. 01.01.2017 to 01.01.2022 at MTC, PGIMS, Rohtak. Four thousand eight hundred and twenty eight patients of Hepatitis B who were confirmed on ELISA (Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and HBV DNA Quantitative test were enrolled in the study after proper consent. A multiple choice structured questionnaires about Hepatitis B was put to the patients and their responses were recorded by the team at MTC which included Gastroenterologist. The team assessed knowledge and awareness about hepatitis B infection, transmission, screening and vaccination against hepatitis B was the tool of data collection. Results: Most of the HBV patients were unaware about existence of hepatitis B infection, modes of transmission, treatment and vaccination of hepatitis B. A direct positive correlation was found between education level and awareness, which reveals that patients with better knowledge and information had better attitudes toward the infection and prevention of hepatitis transmission. Conclusion: There is urgent and strong need for increasing the level of awareness about HBV infection not only in patients suffering from them but also among their family members and general society.

2021

Background & Aims: An estimated between 257 and 292 million people live with chronic HBV globally. While much is known about the causes, and epidemiology of HBV, little is understood about the quality of life and impact of HBV on those living with the infection. Approach and Results: A random sample of HBV-related email queries sent to the Hepatitis B Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit organization, over a 12-month period in 2018-2019 were retrieved, tabulated, and analyzed qualitatively to highlight information needs and explore the experiences of people living with HBV and their families and loved ones. Codebook development was informed by the literature and through line-by-line reading of a sub-sample of queries. Data analysis was facilitated by NVivo12 software. Data were coded independently by two members of the research team and intercoder reliability was assessed to assure coding accuracy throughout the coding phase. A total of 338 queries from people around the globe were i...

2025

Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is responsible for almost one third cases of cirrhosis which require liver transplantation as the definitive treatment which in developing country like India, is not easily accessible due to limited centres and specialists for the same. The awareness regarding HCV is required in patients, family members and society at large. Aims and Objectives: The aim was to study awareness about their disease in confirmed patients of Hepatitis C. Materials and Methods: The present study was a hospital based, prospective, observational study conducted at PGIMS, Rohtak for ten years i.e. 01.01.2015 to 31.12.2024, for determining awareness about hepatitis C in confirmed patients of hepatitis B. In ten years, total 25,000 hepatitis C patients were enrolled. Out of them, in 1000 patients in whom HCV RNA was not detected in quantitative test on Polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) were excluded. Hence, final analysis was done on data obtained of 24,000 patients. All of these patients were evaluated on basis of detailed questionnaire regarding awareness about their HCV infection. Results: Out of total pool of 24,000 patients, only 980 patients were having complete awareness about different aspects related to HCV infection. One hundred patients, in addition to these 980 patients had partial knowledge about HBV. Conclusion: There is urgent need of increasing awareness regarding mode of transmission, spread of disease, precautions and available treatment regarding their disease in hepatitis C patients.

Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 2009

Increasing public awareness about hepatitis C: development and validation of the brief hepatitis C knowledge scale Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is silently becoming a major public health problem. Currently, no validated HCV knowledge measures exist. This study aimed to develop and validate a brief measure to assess general knowledge about HCV risk factors, modes of transmissions, and treatment options. A total of 406 individuals participated in this cross-sectional study. All participants completed the proposed 19-item Brief HCV Knowledge Scale. Participants were: HCV monoinfected patients (n = 83), HCV-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected patients (n = 24), HIV mono-infected patients (n = 128) community healthcare workers (n = 89), and college students (n = 82). Two-week testretest data were collected for the college student sample. Psychometric evaluation of the proposed scale demonstrated high levels of validity (content and construct validity) and reliability (internal consistency and retest stability). Factor analysis indicated a one-factor solution, which accounted for 49% of the variance. HCV knowledge was positively correlated with length of time since HCV diagnosis (r = 0.29, p < 0.05). HCV treatment-experienced patients obtained significantly higher HCV knowledge scores (82% correct) than HCV treatment-naïve patients (72% correct) (p < 0.05). HCV knowledge in College students (43% correct) and HIV patients (54% correct) was significantly lower than in HCV patients (77% correct) and community healthcare workers (80% correct) (p < 0.001). Community workers' HCV knowledge was positively correlated with years of HCV work experience (r = 0.30, p < 0.01). This self-administered Brief HCV Knowledge scale has high levels of validity and reliability across patient, healthcare provider and college student populations. It has valuable applications as a clinical teaching tool with patients and healthcare providers and could be used as an outcome indicator in novel HCV educational intervention studies.

International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a major public health issue worldwide. This study assessed the relationship between knowledge and practices towards hepatitis B among patients and their attendants in a primary healthcare facility in Bangladesh.Methods: Respondents’ knowledge and practices were assessed via interviewer-administered questionnaires using a cross-sectional design. The sample size was 204 which was selected conveniently. Chi square testing and binary logistic regression were conducted to examine the relationship between HBV related knowledge and practices.Results: Among 204 respondents 77.9% and 80.4% had poor knowledge and practices respectively about hepatitis B. It was observed that the respondents with adequate knowledge had showed good practice regarding hepatitis B screening (p&lt;0.001), vaccination (p=0.001), screening of blood before transfusion (p=0.018), demanding new syringe before each use (p=0.018), participation in hepatitis B ...

2025

Introduction:Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has variable manifestations which include both hepatic as well as extrahepatic. It affects significant proportion of population worldwide and can causeacute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis,cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is limited data regarding awareness of HBV in patients who are suffering from it which is very essential for both prevention as well as cure of this deadly disease. Thus, more researches are required in this field, so that well planned steps can be taken to combat hepatitis B. Aims and objectives:The aim was to study awareness about their disease in confirmed patients of Hepatitis B. Materials & methods:This study was a prospective study done at PGIMS, Rohtak for eleven years duration i.e. 01.01.2014 to 31.12.2024, for determining awareness about hepatitis B in confirmed patients of hepatitis B. In eleven years, total 10,000 hepatitis B patients were enrolled which included 700 acute hepatitis B and 9300 belonged to chronic hepatitis B. Out of these 9300 patients of chronic hepatitis B, 6510 belonged to inactive carrier stage, 1860 belonged to chronic hepatitis active stage and 930 belonged to cirrhotic stage. Out of these 930 cirrhotic, 28 had developed hepatocellular carcinoma. All of these patients were evaluated on basis of detailed questionnaire regarding awareness about their HBV infection. Results:Out oftotal pool of 10,000 patients, only 250 patients were having complete awareness about different aspects related to HBV infection. Fourty patients, in addition to these 250 patients had partial knowledge about HBV. Conclusion: There is huge lack of awareness regarding mode of transmission, spread of disease, precautions including vaccination and available treatment regarding their disease in hepatitis B patients which needs to be improved on urgent and priority basis.

International Journal of Biology and Biomedical Engineering, 2021

Attaining the objective of healthy lives and wellbeing Sustainable Development Goal 3 is hinged on effective health communication. This study investigates the information source usage, knowledge, attitude and practices of 200 dwellers of Lagos, Nigeria towards HIV/HBV co-infection. In this cross-sectional study, the simple random sampling method was employed in selecting 200 participants in the most populated local government in Lagos state, Nigeria. Questionnaire instrument was created, to elicit responses on four major areas: uses of information sources, knowledge, attitude, health practice towards HIV/HBV co-infection. Descriptive statistical data in percentages and cross-tabulations were employed. The study indicated that 60.4% of the respondents source for information on HIV/HBV co-infection on television. Furthermore, while 60% noted the co-infection is caused by a virus 48.5% declared that the fear of death will be their main concern if they were diagnosed with the co-infecti...

Advances in Infectious Diseases, 2015

This work examines the use of communication channels to sensitize the people about life threatening diseases with special emphasis on Hepatitis. It becomes very topical at this moment because most of the viral infections wreak havoc such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and more recently, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) assumed an epidemic proportion because the people were not adequately sensitized with precautionary measures against them. One of such measures is dissemination of useful information on how to avoid or contain such viral infections. It also concerns itself with hepatitis because of its contagious nature and the way it attacks the liver. The study reviews relevant concepts to information dissemination. It discovers that as deadly as the disease is, most people, including some health attendants in hospitals do not understand what it means and how it is contracted. In addition, it was discovered that 60% of the total respondents did not know about hepatitis. 73% of those who claimed they knew about it knew through friends and not through the media. 80% of those who claimed they sought health information from the media did not know about hepatitis. 65% of those who claimed they had high access to radio did not really seek health information from the radio. In the communities in Nigeria, we suggest that there should be increased public awareness about viral diseases, complete immunization against viral hepatitis and better sanitation facilities. Other efforts by the Government should in-A. Kolawole et al. 190 clude the provision of safe drinking water; expansion of well-equipped hospitals among other health developmental programmes will go a long way in the reduction of hepatitis in communities, among pregnant women as well as its associated maternal effects in the communities.

Hepatology international, 2016

Patient knowledge about chronic diseases increases health-promoting behaviors and improves clinical outcomes. We assessed this association for patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Untreated patients chronically infected with HBV (n = 500) or HCV (n = 500) were enrolled at 19 centers across India. A survey, adapted from the US CDC National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) questionnaire, was administered at a single visit to assess HBV/HCV knowledge, community disease awareness, treatment quality, and healthcare barriers. We developed the India Hepatitis Knowledge Index (IHKI), where a higher IHKI score (range 0-10) indicates increased hepatitis knowledge. Multivariate regression models evaluated demographic and disease factors. The overall mean IHKI score was 5.6 out of 10, with higher scores among patients with HBV (5.9) than HCV (5.3); p &lt; 0.001. In HBV patients lower IHKI was associated with shorter disease duration, government clinic attendance (p &lt; 0.0001...

BMC Public Health, 2013

Background: Hepatitis-B is a life threatening infection resulting in 0.6 million deaths annually. The prevalence of Hepatitis-B is rising in Pakistan and furthermore, there is paucity of information about Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Hepatitis-B patients. Better disease related knowledge is important to have positive attitude and that will bring the good practices which will prevent the further spread of infection. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis-B Patients in Quetta city, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was undertaken with 390 Hepatitis-B patients attending two public hospitals in Quetta city, Pakistan. Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Hepatitis-B were assessed using a pre-validated questionnaire containing 20, 7 and 8 questions for knowledge, attitude and practice, respectively. Descriptive statistics were used for elaborating patients' demographic characteristics and mean scores for knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis-B patients. Inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis tests, p < 0.05) were used to establish association between study variables. Spearman's rho correlation was used to identify the association between the knowledge, attitude and practice scores.