Determination the rate of knowledge of General Physicians toward Hepatitis E in Khorramabad

Background: Type E hepatitis is a viral infectious disease, which affects the liver and can vary from an asymptomatic simple infection to a sudden-onset fatal disease, especially among pregnant women. The objective of the present study was to survey awareness and knowledge of general physicians working inKhorramabad in 2012. Materials and Methods: This is an epidemiological and descriptive study, which assesses physicians’ awareness of hepatitis E. The desired data were collected using questionnaires and the collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods, such as tables of frequency distribution, cross-tabulations, means, standard variances, and ratios. Results: In the present study, 100 general physicians were surveyed, from among whom 62 physicians were male and 38 physicians were female.To assess the knowledge and awareness level of general physicians  working in Khorramabad regarding hepatitis E, a 14-item questionnaire was designed. Their awareness and knowledge about the ways the disease is spread and about its prevalence levels was rather poor, but their knowledge regarding other aspects of the disease was moderate. No statistically significant difference was found between knowledge levels among male and female physicians. But, female physicians scored higher in items measuring awareness of prevention methods. The total knowledge score for physicians having practiced for less than 5 years was significantly different from physicians having more than 15 years of practice experience.  Conclusion: General awareness level of general physicians working in Khorramabad regarding hepatitis E is moderate. Given an 8 percent prevalence level of this disease in Khorramabad and the high mortality rates due to the disease, especially among pregnant women and young people, more training is needed for generalphysicians . &nbsp