Viral Hepatitis B&C in Elderly Hemodialysis Unit: Nurses' Related Knowledge

Research Abstract

Background: Worldwide, 480-520 million people is living with viral hepatitis. Globally, an estimated 78% of primary liver cancer and 57% of liver cirrhosis cases are caused by viral hepatitis, and 1 million deaths from viral hepatitis occur each year. Chronic hepatitis B and C are among the leading causes of infectious-disease death worldwide. Egypt’s MOHP is committed to ensuring that new cases of viral hepatitis are prevented and that persons who are already infected are tested; informed about their infection; and provided with counseling, care, and treatment. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess nurses' knowledge regarding preventive measures for viral hepatitis B & C in hemodialysis dialysis unit. Design: A descriptive exploratory design was utilized in the current study. Setting: The study was carried out in two hemodialysis units at Beni-Suef University Hospital and Elwasta General Hospital in Beni-Suef Governorate. Subjects: A convenient sample of 76 hemodialysis nurses, of whom 22 were men and 54 women, and who provided direct patient care, consented to take part in the study. Results: The mean of age is 23.45±2.71 years, 52.6% of the dialysis nurses have technical institute, and 48.7% of the dialysis nurses have 2-5 years of experience in nursing field. For dialysis nurses' knowledge about elderly, viral hepatitis B & C, infection control for elderly patients in dialysis unit; 50.0% & 51.3% of them have fair level of knowledge about elderly and viral hepatitis, respectively. Moreover, 52.6% & 55.3% have fair level of knowledge about general knowledge about general and specific preventive measures of infection control in dialysis unit, respectively. Furthermore, 52.6% of the dialysis nurses have fair level of knowledge about infection control standards for dialysis patients. Also 85.5% of the dialysis nurses have good level of knowledge about practices toward viral hepatitis B&C in dialysis unit. Conclusion: There is statistically significant relation between dialysis nurses' knowledge and their education level, training program for new dialysis nurses, training program for improving nursing skills and participate in educational lectures before, age, years of experience in nursing field, years of experience in dialysis unit, the opportunity to view the courses and medical journals and participate in scientific conferences for dialysis and kidney disease during the last 5 years. Recommendations: Conducting standards educational program that emphasize on improving knowledge level regarding prevention of viral hepatitis transmission in HDUs in order to raise awareness and correct misconceptions.

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