Analysis of Health Care Professionals’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours about Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS: A Cross-sectional Clinical Study

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge about hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), their approaches to patients and the deficiencies that need to be corrected among health care workers including physicians and nurses in a training and research hospital. Methods: Healthcare professionals were surveyed on 30.07.2023 for this cross-sectional clinical study. Questions were asked to the respondents about HBV, HCV, and HIV/AIDS (transmission routes, perspectives on the disease, prevention methods, prophylaxis, etc.) via Google Forms. A chi-square test was performed for statistical analysis of the obtained data. Results: A total of 165 healthcare professionals, 77 (46.7%) physicians and 88 (53.3%) nurses, filled out the questionnaire and participated in the study. 89 (53.9%) of them were women. Based on the results of this study, the lack of knowledge about HBV, HCV and HIV/AIDS was less in physicians than in nurses. In addition, as the years of work in the profession increased, the level of knowledge increased with the experience. The majority of the respondents correctly stated that all three viruses were transmitted through blood. However, the percentage of correct answers was low in questions about breastfeeding, vertical transmission, and post-exposure prophylaxis. The most common measure to prevent transmission from infected patients was the “use of gloves” (70.9%). Conclusion: It is necessary to increase the knowledge level of health workers about HBV, HCV, and HIV by periodically organizing in-service trainings. This will help ensure effective infection control.