title: Changes in French people's misconceptions about hepatitis C, 1997-2003.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The French health authorities instituted in 1999 a campaign to educate physicians, high-risk populations, and the public about hepatitis C (HC). To what extent has knowledge about HC increased among members of the French public?
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 706 French adults, aged 18 to 87, completed in 2003 a questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge of HC. Their responses were compared to those in 1997 of a different group of French adults on an identical questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1997 and 2003, knowledge significantly improved on 13 of the 26 items for which strong expert-public differences were found in 1997 and significantly worsened on 3 items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  France's public education campaign led to only a limited increase in knowledge about HC. Further public education is needed.
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse II, France.
authors.forename: María Teresa Muñoz
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sastre
authors.forename: Sandie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monsirmen
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Presutto
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Séguéla
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vinel
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mullet
authors.forename: Paul Clay
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sorum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation