Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude towards Hepatitis B Infection Among Dental Students in two Teaching Hospitals of Punjab, Pakistan

Maleeha Khurram; Aneela Qaisar; Khurram Jah Zafar; Arsalan Wahid; Faiza Hassan; Mariyah Javed

doi:10.29054/apmc/2020.701

Maleeha Khurram Assistant Professor of Science of Dental Materials, University Medical & Dental College, Faisalabad-Pakistan
Aneela Qaisar Assistant Professor, Department of Science of Dental Materials, Fatima Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine & Dentistry, Lahore Pakistan
Khurram Jah Zafar Assistant Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Section, Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad Pakistan
Arsalan Wahid Associate Professor & HOD, Department of Oral Pathology, University Medical & Dental College, Faisalabad Pakistan
Faiza Hassan Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Foundation College of Dentistry, Islamabad Pakistan
Mariyah Javed Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, University Medical & Dental College, Faisalabad Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29054/apmc/2020.701

Keywords: Hepatitis B, Attitude, Knowledge, Dental students

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and attitude of dental students towards hepatitis B infection. Study Design: A Cross Sectional Study (survey). Settings: University Medical & Dental College Faisalabad and FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry Lahore. Duration: Two months from February 1 to March 31, 2018. Methodology: A structured questionnaire consisted of total 27 open and closed ended questions were distributed among 200 first year and final year BDS students. The aim of questionnaire was to assess knowledge and attitude towards hepatitis B infection. The questions were divided into three different sections; Section A: Demographic Detail; Section B: Knowledge Questions and Section C: Attitude Questions. Results: Out of 200 distributed questionnaires 191 (95.5%) were collected and analyzed. The most of the participants were females 149 (78%) students and the number of male students was only 42 (22%) with male to female ratio 1:3.5. The age of the participants ranged from 17-25 years (mean age: 21.4 years). Among 191 participants 99 (52%) students were from first year BDS class and 92 (48%) from final year BDS class. The majority of study participants (73%) had adequate knowledge on hepatitis B infection and its mode of transmission. However, results revealed that there are still misinterpretations regarding the attitudes of participants towards hepatitis B infected patients and only 44% participants have adequate concept regarding this. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the overall level of knowledge about hepatitis B infection among the first year and final year BDS students is fairly satisfactory. However, there are still misconceptions regarding the attitudes, which reflect the wrong impression of the disease among students. This calls for well-structured health education programs stressing on such misconceptions.