title: Prevalence of HBV Infection and Knowledge of Hepatitis B Among Patients Attending Primary Care Clinics in Poland.
abstract: It is well known that community awareness of hepatitis B (HB) can lead to vaccination and testing. The study objectives were to assess the prevalence of HBV infection and knowledge of HB among adult patients attending randomly selected primary care clinics. A cross-sectional sero-survey was conducted in March 2013 in the Zgorzelec region, Poland, with the use of an investigator-developed questionnaire containing 22 questions regarding HB knowledge. Serum samples were assayed for anti-HBc total and anti-HBs with enzyme immunoassay. The prevalence of anti-HBc total among 410 participants (median age 56 years) was 10.3 % (95 % CI 7.6-13.8 %), nobody was aware of an infection. The main sources of HB knowledge were the media and medical staff. The mean knowledge score was 14.8 ± 4.9; 76.7 % of the respondents had scores >50 %. Particular gaps were detected relating to knowledge of unprotected sexual intercourse and MTCT; 45.6 % patients were not aware of the potential asymptomatic course of HBV infection, 41.2 % about chronic HB treatment. A patient's low educational level was negatively associated with a high knowledge level; the willingness for further education on HB and HBV vaccination in the past were independently associated with good knowledge. In conclusion, the HBV infection remains a public health threat in Poland, since the prevalence of infection markers in asymptomatic adult patients was high. Knowledge gaps call for awareness campaigns which may increase testing and diagnosis, audiences representing lower education level should be targeted first. Knowledge on HB might serve as an effective tool in decision making regarding vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Pomeranian Medical University, Żołnierska 48, 71-210, Szczecin, Poland. mganczak@pum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6424-128X
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganczak
authors.affiliation: Vaccination Unit, Primary Care Clinic, Warszawska 30, 59-900, Zgorzelec, Poland.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dmytrzyk-Daniłów
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Żołnierska 49, 71-210, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korzeń
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Clinic, Parkowa 7, 74-100, Gryfino, Poland.
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drozd-Dąbrowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Education Quality Research, Pomeranian Medical University, Żołnierska 54, 71-210, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szych
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens
keywords: HBV; Knowledge; Patients; Prevalence; Primary care; Vaccination