Hepatitis C prevention with nurses.
A state campaign to educate nurses about hepatitis C and encourage nurses to fight the epidemic provided an opportunity to assess the relationship between information and safety practices. Baseline and follow-up surveys were sent to random, representative samples (n = 6000) of licensed nurses in Massachusetts, USA. Responses received by 42% (n = 2443) at baseline and 37% (n = 2167) at follow-up were compared to explore the relationship between receiving information and propensity to counsel patients or use safety equipment. Only data from nurses in direct patient care were analyzed. Although few changes were observed, the assessment provided further evidence that more than a single intervention is needed to achieve health behavior change. The number of nurses who never used safety equipment did decrease slightly, from 13.3% (191) to 8.2% (132), and nurses who received information were more likely to talk to patients about the virus: 49% (414) compared to 21% (120). Hepatitis information aimed at nurses may help control this emerging epidemic.
Keller
Sarah
S
Department of Communication and Theatre, Montana State University, Billings, MT 59101, USA. skeller@msubillings.edu
Daley
Karen
K
Hyde
James
J
Greif
Richard S
RS
Church
Daniel R
DR
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003376:Counseling; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017144:Focus Groups; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016635:Universal Precautions