Hepatitis B-related awareness among health care workers in Belgrade, Serbia

Background/Aim. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccine since 1982, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection still remains a major occupational disease among health care workers (HCWs) worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the level of knowledge regarding HBV among HCWs in Serbia....

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Main Authors: Kisić-Tepavčević Darija, Kanazir Milena, Marić Gorica, Zarić Milica, Lončarević Goranka, Gazibara Tatjana, Maksimović Nataša, Pekmezović Tatjana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade 2020-01-01
Series:Vojnosanitetski Pregled
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Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2020/0042-84501800090K.pdf
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author Kisić-Tepavčević Darija
Kanazir Milena
Marić Gorica
Zarić Milica
Lončarević Goranka
Gazibara Tatjana
Maksimović Nataša
Pekmezović Tatjana
author_facet Kisić-Tepavčević Darija
Kanazir Milena
Marić Gorica
Zarić Milica
Lončarević Goranka
Gazibara Tatjana
Maksimović Nataša
Pekmezović Tatjana
author_sort Kisić-Tepavčević Darija
collection DOAJ
description Background/Aim. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccine since 1982, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection still remains a major occupational disease among health care workers (HCWs) worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the level of knowledge regarding HBV among HCWs in Serbia. Methods. A random sample of 352 HCWs, stratified by occupation, was selected from the list of employees in the Clinical Centre of Serbia during December 2015. Anonymous questionnaire was used in data collection. Data were statistically assessed. Results. The mean HBV knowledge score was 22.9 ± 4.8 (out of maximum 30). Better knowledge score correlated with higher education attainment (ρ = 0.377; p < 0.001), younger age (ρ = -0.113; p = 0.034) and less working experience (ρ=-0.127; p = 0.017). We observed that those HCWs who were previously vaccinated against hepatitis B demonstrated statistically significantly higher knowledge level (t = 5.656, p < 0.001) compared to HCWs who were not vaccinated (23.9 ± 3.7 vs. 20.9 ± 5.8, respectively). Conclusion. We found poor level of knowledge on some aspects of HBV infection among HCWs in Serbia. Tailoring of education campaigns in this high-risk exposure group is necessary. Education intervention should focus on change of attitudes and behaviour modification to ensure safe and responsible health care environment. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 175087]
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issn 0042-8450
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language English
publishDate 2020-01-01
publisher Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade
record_format Article
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spelling doaj-art-e654d0dac4d34ca49f5e9ff6eb0071282025-08-20T02:04:05ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502406-07202020-01-0177546346910.2298/VSP180227090K0042-84501800090KHepatitis B-related awareness among health care workers in Belgrade, SerbiaKisić-Tepavčević Darija0Kanazir Milena1Marić Gorica2Zarić Milica3Lončarević Goranka4Gazibara Tatjana5Maksimović Nataša6Pekmezović Tatjana7University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade, Serbia + Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanović Batut”, Belgrade, Serbia Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanović Batut”, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, *Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, *Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanović Batut”, Belgrade, Serbia University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, *Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, *Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade, SerbiaUniversity of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, *Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade, SerbiaBackground/Aim. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccine since 1982, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection still remains a major occupational disease among health care workers (HCWs) worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the level of knowledge regarding HBV among HCWs in Serbia. Methods. A random sample of 352 HCWs, stratified by occupation, was selected from the list of employees in the Clinical Centre of Serbia during December 2015. Anonymous questionnaire was used in data collection. Data were statistically assessed. Results. The mean HBV knowledge score was 22.9 ± 4.8 (out of maximum 30). Better knowledge score correlated with higher education attainment (ρ = 0.377; p < 0.001), younger age (ρ = -0.113; p = 0.034) and less working experience (ρ=-0.127; p = 0.017). We observed that those HCWs who were previously vaccinated against hepatitis B demonstrated statistically significantly higher knowledge level (t = 5.656, p < 0.001) compared to HCWs who were not vaccinated (23.9 ± 3.7 vs. 20.9 ± 5.8, respectively). Conclusion. We found poor level of knowledge on some aspects of HBV infection among HCWs in Serbia. Tailoring of education campaigns in this high-risk exposure group is necessary. Education intervention should focus on change of attitudes and behaviour modification to ensure safe and responsible health care environment. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 175087]http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2020/0042-84501800090K.pdfhepatitis bmedical staffeducationinfection controlserbia
spellingShingle Kisić-Tepavčević Darija
Kanazir Milena
Marić Gorica
Zarić Milica
Lončarević Goranka
Gazibara Tatjana
Maksimović Nataša
Pekmezović Tatjana
Hepatitis B-related awareness among health care workers in Belgrade, Serbia
Vojnosanitetski Pregled
hepatitis b
medical staff
education
infection control
serbia
title Hepatitis B-related awareness among health care workers in Belgrade, Serbia
title_full Hepatitis B-related awareness among health care workers in Belgrade, Serbia
title_fullStr Hepatitis B-related awareness among health care workers in Belgrade, Serbia
title_full_unstemmed Hepatitis B-related awareness among health care workers in Belgrade, Serbia
title_short Hepatitis B-related awareness among health care workers in Belgrade, Serbia
title_sort hepatitis b related awareness among health care workers in belgrade serbia
topic hepatitis b
medical staff
education
infection control
serbia
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2020/0042-84501800090K.pdf
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AT zaricmilica hepatitisbrelatedawarenessamonghealthcareworkersinbelgradeserbia
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AT gazibaratatjana hepatitisbrelatedawarenessamonghealthcareworkersinbelgradeserbia
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