Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Seyedeh Shahrbanoo Daniali
- . Mona Hafezi Bakhtiari 1
- . Mostafa Nasirzadeh 2
- . Mohammad Aligol 3
- . Saeed Doaei 4
1 Isfahan Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
2 Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health,
3 Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health
4 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
Abstract
Introduction: 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. Aim: 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.
Settings and Design: This is a descriptive–analytical study that was conducted among
457 students of the Medical Sciences in the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
Materials and Methods: The data was collected using a questionnaire. Sampling was done
randomly. Statistical Analysis Used: 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.
Keywords
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