Evaluation of family physicians' level of knowledge about hepatitis B and vaccine

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: We aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of family physicians, who play a critical role in the diagnosis, screening and immunization of hepatitis B infection, about HBV infection and HBV vaccines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Within the scope of our cross-sectional and descriptive study, 200 family physicians working in family health centers in Sakarya province between 22.12.2023 and 10.07.2023 were included in the study. A questionnaire consisting of 25 propositions was applied to the participants over the internet. The data were recorded in the SPSS v.23 program and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: 200 family physicians, 106 women and 94 men, participated in the study. The average age of the participants is 40.80±9.24. 161 physicians (80.5%) work in the city center and 39 physicians (19.5%) work in rural areas. There is a statistically significant difference between the knowledge level of physicians working in rural areas and the knowledge level of physicians working in the city center (p = 0.013). Considering the level of knowledge of the physicians participating in the research regarding the Hepatitis B virus and its vaccine, according to their score distributions, the majority (67%) was found to be partially sufficient. While the most correctly answered question was the question about HBV being transmitted through sexual fluids and blood (98.5%), the least correctly answered question was the question about the vaccination program of the baby born to HBV positive mothers (15%). CONCLUSION: This research reveals the deficiencies in family physicians' knowledge about hepatitis B infection and vaccine and draws attention to the importance of continuous education of family physicians.