An analysis of hepatitis C virus-related public inquiries from health professionals: 2009-2010.
A content analysis was performed on e-mail inquiries about viral hepatitis that were submitted by health professionals to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) public inquiry system, CDC-INFO. All hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related inquiries from health professionals were identified, representing 10% of all inquiries received during the 2-year period of 2009-2010. Three-fourths of the inquiries included professional degree and organizational affiliation information, with 35% representing physicians, 33% representing nurses, and 6% representing midlevel clinicians, the majority of whom provided direct clinical care or worked in a healthcare organization. Two independent coders analyzed content, with κ coefficients for interrater agreement ranging from 0.82 to 0.93. Overall, the inquiries demonstrated important knowledge gaps regarding HCV, with the most frequently asked questions focusing on transmission, serology, and policy/legal issues surrounding patient care and infected healthcare workers.
Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.cjorgensen@cdc.gov
Cynthia M
CM
Jorgensen
C Amanda
CA
Lewis
Jessica
J
Liu
D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D016208:Databases, Factual; D034742:Electronic Mail; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000592:standards; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014481:United States