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Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to understand what demographic, diagnostic, and other patient characteristics appear associated with knowledge about hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission and risk-factors among an HCV infected population.
Background:
Knowledge about specific HCV risk factors and transmission is essential in preventing the spread of HCV while ensuring that infected individuals' activities and lifestyle are not limited unnecessarily.
Methods:
1,011 patients HCV+ patients treated at VA Puget Sound over a 2-year period were invited to complete a survey that included an HCV knowledge assessment and questions about demographics, mental health status, and health behaviors. 756 patients agreed to participate, and 629 completed surveys were received.
Results:
Significant differences in HCV knowledge about transmission were detected among respondents: HCV knowledge score was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.14, p<.001); whites scored higher than non-whites (t=-3.86, p<.000), married respondents higher than non-married (t=-2.37, p<.05), and college educated higher than those with a high school education or less (t=-2.71, p<.01). Lower scores were detected among respondents who endorsed symptoms of depression (t=-2.59, p<.01) or post-traumatic stress disorder (t = 2.11, p<.05), engaged in excessive drinking or drug use (t=-2.37, p<.05), or felt they needed to cut down on drinking or drug use (t=-2.28, p<.05). Higher scores were detected among individuals who engaged in recent physical exercise (t=-2.22, p<.05) or received a hepatitis A vaccination (t=3.33, p<.001). A remarkable number of patients endorsed misconceptions about HCV transmission (e.g., that HCV can be spread through playing with children).
Conclusions:
Knowledge about HCV transmission and risk factors varies among the patient population based on race, age, education level, marital and mental health status and appears positively correlated with certain beneficial health behaviors and negatively correlated with certain harmful health behaviors.
See more of E5 - Hepatitis C Education and Care for Veterans
See more of The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference