Changes in French people's misconceptions about hepatitis C, 1997-2003.
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.
Sastre
María Teresa Muñoz
MT
Université de Toulouse II, France.
Monsirmen
Sandie
S
Morin
Gabrielle
G
Presutto
Emilie
E
Séguéla
Laurence
L
Vinel
Jean-Pierre
JP
Mullet
Etienne
E
Sorum
Paul Clay
PC
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