title: Knowledge, risk perception, and behavioral intention about hepatitis C, among university students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major complex public health problem. Different resources have proved that healthcare workers more than the general population are at a risk of infection. Therefore, medical field students, due to the future occupational hazards, are included in the risk group.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to evaluate the level of knowledge, public and individual risk perception, and behavioral intention about HCV, among medical sciences students of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive-analytical study that was conducted among 457 students of the Medical Sciences in the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data was collected using a questionnaire. Sampling was done randomly.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data was analyzed using the SPSS18 software and statistical tests of Pearson, Spearman, T- test, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA); P < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred and fifty-seven students (41.8% male and 58.2% female) in 29 fields of study (six categories) participated in this research. The mean age was 21.55 ± 2.6 years. The mean and standard deviations of the students' knowledge was 3.71 ± 2.9 (out of 8), and the behavioral intention to accruing information and performance of preventive actions related to HCV was 11.52 ± 3.16 (out of 20). Public risk perception was 20.1 ± 3.5 (out of 30); and personal risk perception was 6.96 ± 1.8 (out of 10). The ANOVA test showed that public perception of the risk among students of different academic fields was different (F = 1.52, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the low knowledge of students of Medical Sciences in the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences about HCV, it was recommended that the University Policymakers design an educational intervention about it, in order to minimize the chances of being infected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyedeh Shahrbanoo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Daniali
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mona Hafezi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bakhtiari
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasirzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aligol
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, School of Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doaei
keywords: Behavioral intention; hepatitis C. knowledge; risk perception