Knowledge regarding Hepatitis B among staff nurses

Hospital is a place to get cured from the suffering. Among the members of health team the nurses spend most of their time at the bed side and they are usually considered as angels at the mission of comforting patients. Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening viral infection caused by Hepatitis B virus. It can create both acute and chronic diseases and, deemed as a major and serious health problem in the developing countries like India. Materials and methods: The descriptive survey approach adopted in the study aimed to assess the knowledge regarding Hepatitis B infection and its prevention among staff nurses. Self administered structured knowledge questionnaire was developed on the basis of objectives of the study by reviewing the literature of relevant topics and discussion with experts. Result: The data obtained from 100 staff nurses indicated that majority of the subjects (61%) were in the age group of 21-28 years, 84% were females and 16 % males. More than half of the subjects (55%) were with B. Sc qualification 63% were having 1-5 year experience and 62% of subjects were having monthly income between Rs 10,001-20,000. Only 36% of the subjects acquired information from college/friends. Distribution of staff nurses according to their knowledge showed that 86% had adequate knowledge, 12% had moderate knowledge, and 2%had poor knowledge. Conclusion: Nurses have major role in preventive aspect than in curative aspects Nurse through the scientific knowledge and skills are able to collect the data from public. The study results will help the investigators as well as the public to update their knowledge by organizing education programme. Keywords: Hepatitis B, Prevention, Staff nurses