title: Nursing students' immunisation status and knowledge about viral hepatitis in Turkey: a multi-centre cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this multi-centre cross-sectional survey were to detect Turkish nursing students' level of knowledge on viral hepatitis, to evaluate their rates of exposure to blood and to find out their hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination status.
  
  
  METHODS
  This multi-centre cross-sectional study was conducted in 14 nursing schools located in the seven geographical regions of Turkey. A questionnaire composed of 47 questions on socio-demographic factors, level of knowledge on HAV, HBV, hepatitis C (HCV) immunisation status, exposure history and attitudes was applied to the study group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1491 third- and fourth-year nursing students participated with an 89% response rate. The mean age of the participating students was 21.4 ± 1.3. Their mean knowledge score was 23.7 ± 4.6 (71/100) and was significantly higher in fourth-year students than third-year students. There were significant differences in mean scores among nursing schools. Among the participants, 85.3% had received HBV vaccine and 9.1% had received HAV vaccine. The percentage of students who signify themselves at increased risk of acquiring viral hepatitis was 97.3%. Of the students, 28.1% had sustained a needle-stick injury and 5.4% had experienced conjunctival exposure to blood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curriculum differences among nursing schools have a significant effect on nursing students' level of knowledge. For this reason, nursing schools should organize HBV immunisation programmes for their students to increase vaccination coverage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ege University, School of Nursing, Izmir, Turkey. tansu.yamazhan@ege.edu.tr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamazhan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Durusoy
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Tasbakan
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokem
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pullukcu
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Sipahi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D014421:Turkey; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines