Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Hepatitis C: Knowledge and awareness of private dental practitioners of a tricity in India

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Ramandeep Singh Gambhir
. Mandeep Kumar 1
. Gurminder Singh 2
. Arshdeep Singh 3
. Amanpreet Kaur 4

1 1 Prosthodontics, Rayat and Bahra Dental College a and Hospital, Mohali

2 Prosthodontics, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital, Rajpura

3 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan

4 Private Practitioner, Department of General Dentistry, Amloh, Punjab, India

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dental health‑care personnel are at an increased risk toward infections caused
by various microorganisms including hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses (HCV). A dentist can play
an important role in the prevention of HCV by considering every patient as a potential carrier for
hepatitis. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness of
dental health‑care professionals regarding various aspects of HCV.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional study was conducted among 247 private dental
practitioners of tricity. A close‑ended self‑structured questionnaire was administered which contained
12 questions on knowledge and awareness regarding HCV infection keeping in view the time
constraints. Categorization of knowledge scores was done at three levels ‑ poor, moderate, and
good. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA and Student’s t‑test.
RESULTS: Nearly 96% (102) of postgraduates and 84% (117) of graduates had heard about HCV.
45.5% (112) had poor knowledge scores, 33.6% (83) had moderate knowledge scores, and only
21% (52) of participants had good knowledge scores. On the opinion of treating an HCV‑infected
patient by a dentist, only 61% (65) of postgraduates and 46% (64) of graduates agreed. There was
statistically significant association of mean knowledge scores with gender, education level, and
experience (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Majority of the dental professionals lacked knowledge regarding HCV infection and
were not fully aware regarding certain aspects. Therefore, there is an urgent need for modification
of the existing dental curriculum so that knowledge regarding these diseases can be imparted during
graduation.

Keywords

Awareness
hepatitis C
infection
prophylaxis
vaccination
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 8, Issue 1
January 2018
Pages 1-5

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