title: Japanese Encephalitis in Assam, India: Need to Increase Healthcare Workers' Understanding to Improve Health Care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a major cause of high morbidity and mortality in several states across India. However, in 2014, a sharp rise was observed in the number of cases of JE in north-eastern Assam state, and 51% of the total cases of JE in India were reported from the Assam in the same year. In this regard, a study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers in Darrang, a district of Assam highly affected by JE.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted for 2 months among HCWs in the major district hospital of Darrang, Assam. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Convenience sampling approach was used to collect data from different departments of the hospitals. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to express the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The knowledge of HCWs regarding JE was poor with a mean knowledge score of 11.02±2.39 (out of 17), while their attitudes were positive with a mean attitudes score of 43.16± 2.47 (ranging from 13 to 52). Overall, 40.4% and 74.3% of participants demonstrated good knowledge and positive attitudes respectively. Cut-off score for good knowledge and positive attitudes toward JE was set as ≥12 and >40 respectively. Older participants (40-49 years) and experienced workers (>10 years) were significantly associated with good knowledge as compared to their referent group (p<0.05), while knowledge of nurses and other orderlies were significantly lower than physicians (p<0.01). Similar factors were associated with the positive attitudes of the participants with the exception of experience. Television was the major source of information regarding JE reported by HCWs (79%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the knowledge was not optimized, HCWs exhibited positive attitudes towards JE. Future research is required to design, implement and evaluate interventions to improve the knowledge of JE among HCWs.
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Akram
authors: A
authors: Ahmad
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Muhammad Umair
authors: MU
authors: Khan
authors: Institutional Level Biotech Hub, Mangaldai College, Mangaldai, 784125, Assam, India.
authors: Lakhya Jyoti
authors: LJ
authors: Gogoi
authors: Institutional Level Biotech Hub, Dakshin Kamrup College, Mirza, 781125, Assam, India.
authors: Manabendra
authors: M
authors: Kalita
authors: Department of Chemistry, Mangaldai College, Mangaldai, 784125, Assam, India.
authors: Atul Prasad
authors: AP
authors: Sikdar
authors: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Uriah Butler Highway, Champ Fleurs, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors: Sureshwar
authors: S
authors: Pandey
authors: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Uriah Butler Highway, Champ Fleurs, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors: Sameer
authors: S
authors: Dhingra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004672:Encephalitis, Japanese / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires