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Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Hepatitis B in Nurses Working in Different Hospitals of Quetta City, Pakistan
Abstract
Objective: This study was conducted to assess the nurse's knowledge, attitude and practice regarding hepatitis B infection in tertiary care public hospital in Quetta, Pakistan. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted from February to October 2016 in the different (both public and private) hospitals of Quetta city, Balochistan, Pakistan. A total of 565 nurses were registered and working in different hospitals, but only 412 were tracked and present on duties. Out of which, 384 were agreed to participate and were included in the study for data collection. A self-administrative questionnaire was developed that consists of four sections: demographic characteristics, 20 knowledge-related questions, 6 questions assessing the attitude, and 9 questions that evaluate the practice related to hepatitis-B. The participants were allowed to record their respond as Yes, No and Do not know. The data were computed and analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22 (IBM SPSS version 22). Descriptive analysis and inferential statistics were applied. The results for categorical variables were reported as frequencies and percentages and the results of continuous variables were mean and ±standard deviation. Inferential statistics and Pearson correlation (p < 0.01) were used to see the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice. Results: The mean age was 27.66±9.13 years. Majority (n = 191, 55.4%) belong to age group 17–26 years with job experience of 1–3 years (n = 198, 57.4%) working as nurse (n = 162, 47.0) in a government hospital (n = 275, 79.7%) and having their last degree obtained from Provincial Nursing School Bolan Medical Complex (n = 143, 41.4%). Overall, the study participants had good level of knowledge (with mean knowledge score of 16.53 ± 2.08), positive attitude (with mean attitude score of 4.91 ± 1.14) and had good practice (with mean practice score of 6.83 ± 1.61). On contrary, majority (n = 176, 51.0%) had needle prick injury during their practice and (n=196, 56.8%) had splash blood or body fluids in the mouth, eyes, nose or on unprotected skin which had wounds or rashes in the past one year. The correlation between mean scores of knowledge, attitude and practice was calculated, and it was found that there are significant positive linear correlations between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.361, p < 0.01) knowledge and practice (r = 0.246, p < 0.01), and attitude and practice (r = 0.213, p < 0.01). The result reaffirms the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice with infection control measures. Conclusion: The study concludes that the nurses had adequate knowledge and positive attitude, but poor practices, especially with regards to needle prick injuries. It is important to know that this carelessness of the needle prink injury may lead to higher incidence and transmission of hepatitis B to and from nurses which could cause the increase in prevalence of the infection among the nurses, and also patients will be at threat during their stay and exposure in hospital where they seek health care.
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