Viral Hepatitis C and B: Hemodialysis Nursing Staffs' Knowledge
Research Abstract
Background: The hepatitis virus is a blood borne virus but can also is found in other body fluids such as semen and vaginal secretions. Body fluids, such as urine, faeces, tears and vomit, also contain the virus but usually carry a far lower risk of transmission. The risk of transmission of viral hepatitis B and C and other blood borne infections through the transfusion of contaminated blood and blood products is extremely high, and, despite being preventable, still occurs because of the absence, or poor quality, of screening in blood transfusion services. Ensuring the availability of safe blood and blood products is a vital public health duty for every national government. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess hemodialysis nursing staffs' knowledge regarding elderly viral hepatitis C and B. 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. Results: about 69.8% & 68.4% of them has incomplete knowledge about the causes of viral hepatitis and the items that should be taken when taking patient history with viral hepatitis, respectively, and 51.3% of the dialysis nurses have fair level of total knowledge about viral hepatitis B & C for elderly patients in the dialysis units. Also, 31.6% of them have good level of total knowledge, while, 17.1% of them have poor level of total knowledge. Conclusion: A highly statistically significant relation between dialysis nurses' knowledge about viral hepatitis B & C for elderly patients in the dialysis units and their education level, their training program for new dialysis nurses, and years of experience in nursing field (P=< 0.05). Recommendations: Policy makers should formulate a national plan of continuing education to help nurses already in the dialysis unit to retain and update their knowledge and clinical skills
Research Keywords
Viral Hepatitis, Hemodialysis, Nurses' Knowledge