Hepatitis Knowledge and Attitudes among Jordanian Nursing Students

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to identify the differences among three groups of nursing students (i.e., sophomores, juniors, and seniors) in the (a) level of knowledge regarding hepatitis transmission, (b) attitudes towards hepatitis, and (c) needs for further education related to hepatitis. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive design was used. One thousand questionnaires were administered randomly. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Results: The response rate was 75%. Approximately 50% of the participants did not know that hepatitis B and C can be transmitted by sharing razors, and can be more easily spread than AIDS. The results showed that participants were fearful to treat people with hepatitis. They felt that they were at risk if they treat people with hepatitis. They thought that people with hepatitis should be isolated in a special room. Relevance to Clinical Practice: One major step in preventing a widespread hepatitis infection is to qualify students for working with hepatitis infected individuals, and for counseling them about risks that might lead to hepatitis infection. Conclusion: Knowledge of hepatitis infections is significantly low. Negative attitudes may lead to less than optimal care for patients.