title: Knowledge and attitudes towards hepatitis C and injecting drug use among mental-health support workers of a community managed organisation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  People with mental illness are at significantly higher risk of acquiring hepatitis C virus (HCV) compared with the general population. This study assessed knowledge of and attitudes towards people with HCV and people who inject drugs (PWID) among support workers of clients with mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Support workers from a community managed organisation (CMO) in Australia were recruited to complete an online cross-sectional survey. The survey collected data about their knowledge of HCV and attitudes towards PWID and people with HCV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Valid responses were received from 117 support workers. Although HCV knowledge was moderate, there were significant knowledge gaps around transmission and treatment of HCV. Higher HCV knowledge was significantly associated with more positive attitudes towards PWID, but not with attitudes towards people with HCV. Participants had more positive attitudes towards people with HCV than towards PWID. Additionally, those with more positive attitudes towards HCV tended to also have more positive attitudes towards PWID.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given that people with mental illness are at higher risk of acquiring HCV, these results point to the need for education targeted at support workers of clients with mental illness to increase HCV knowledge and promote positive attitudes towards PWID and people with HCV.
authors.affiliation: Aftercare, Rozelle Hospital, Church Street, Lilyfield, NSW 2040, Australia. Email:
authors.forename: Grenville
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cama
authors.forename: Loren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brener
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Treloar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce