Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards hepatitis B infection among pharmacy students: A cross-sectional study in Jordan

Authors

  • Nader Alaridah Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3659-8203
  • Raba'a F. Jarrar Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan & Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Science, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
  • Razan Qasim Al-oyoun King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH), Jordan University of Science and Technology, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8765-5533
  • Zaina Battah School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9946-9455
  • Aya Battah School of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8905-6614
  • Khayry Al-Shami Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1813-3592
  • Eman A. AlJaafreh Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan
  • Hasan Abu Al Jlood Prince Hamza Hospital, Amman, Jordan
  • Anas H. A. Abu-Humaidan 1 Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1739-6948

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2024.241.490505

Keywords:

Attitude, Hepatitis B virus, Jordan, Knowledge, Pharmacy student, Practice

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B infection is a potentially fatal liver illness caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). In recent years, the Centres for Disease Control have recognised pharmacists as immunisation providers and potential educators for patients and their families on the importance of vaccination and the best drug use. This study aimed to evaluate Jordanian pharmacy students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards HBV infection.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 626 Jordanian pharmacy students to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Results: Of the 626 respondents, 19.8% were males and 81% were females. Students were mostly knowledgeable about disease transmission, and a substantial percentage were aware of the importance of vaccination in preventing it. Females, fifth-year students, and those who encountered infected patients have shown significantly better knowledge of HBV.

Conclusion: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards HBV infection among pharmacy students in Jordan are unsatisfactory. More effort should be made to raise awareness among future pharmacy students and explore other factors associated with these low levels of awareness.

References

Alaridah, N., Joudeh, R. M., Al-Abdallat, H., Jarrar, R. F., Ismail, L., Jum'ah, M., Alnajjar, Z., Alzyoud, E., Battah, Z., Battah, A., Alshami, M., & Abu-Humaidan, A. H. A. (2023). Knowledge, attitude, and practices toward hepatitis B infection among healthcare students-A nationwide cross-sectional study in Jordan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4348. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054348

Altamimi, A. R., Alqahtani, T. M., Ahmed, J. A., Aldosari, L. H., Alzahrani, M. M., Alotaibi, G. S., & Moukaddem, A. K. (2021). Knowledge, awareness, and vaccination compliance of hepatitis B among medical students in Riyadh's governmental universities. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 10(1), 485–490. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1419_20

Bach, A. T., & Goad, J. A. (2015). The role of community pharmacy-based vaccination in the USA: Current practice and future directions. Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice, 4, 67–77. https://doi.org/10.2147/iprp.S63822

Guerci, J., Campbell, C. T., & Curtis, S. D. (2020). The pharmacists' role in disease outbreaks: Navigating the dynamics of uncertainty before, during, and after disease outbreaks. The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 25(5), 384–389. https://doi.org/10.5863/1551-6776-25.5.384

Hang Pham, T. T., Le, T. X., Nguyen, D. T., Luu, C. M., Truong, B. D., Tran, P. D., Toy, M., Bozkurt, S., & So, S. (2019). Knowledge, attitudes and medical practice regarding hepatitis B prevention and management among healthcare workers in Northern Vietnam. PLoS One, 14(10), e0223733. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223733

Hassan, Z., Wahsheh, M., Shishani, K., & Pryor, E. (2008). Hepatitis needs assessment among Jordanian healthcare workers. International Nursing Review, 55(2), 142–147. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-7657.2007.00583.x

King, K. C., & Strony, R. (2023). Needlestick. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493147/

Kumar, V., Abbas, A. K., & Aster, J. C. (Eds.). (2017). Robbins basic pathology (10th ed.). Elsevier.

Lingala, S., & Ghany, M. G. (2016). Hepatitis B: Screening, awareness, and the need to treat. Federal Practitioner, 33(Suppl 3), 19s–23s. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc6375415/

Nguyen, T. T. L., Pham, T. T. H., So, S., Hoang, T. H. V., Nguyen, T. T. U., Ngo, T. B., Nguyen, M. P., Thai, Q. H., Nguyen, N. K., Le Ho, T. Q. A., Tran, Q. P., & Pham, M. K. (2021). Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward hepatitis B virus infection among students of medicine in Vietnam. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(13), 7081. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137081

Nusair, M., Rayyan, Y., Khatib, A., Mansour, Snehanshu, S., Bassil, N., Kozma, S., Ghazzawi, I., & Hamoudi, W. (2020). Hepatitis B care pathway in Jordan: Current situation, gaps and recommended actions. Journal of Virus Eradication, 6(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2055-6640(20)30004-2

Othman, B., Al‐Najjar, M. A., Othman, D., Al‐Qudah, R., & Basheti, I. (2020). Prevalence, knowledge of and attitude towards hepatitis B virus among pregnant females in Jordan. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 27(11), 1108–1118. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.13342

Othman, B., Barakat, M., Omar, A., Al-Rawashdeh, A., Qashou, Y., Zrieq, R., & Al-Najjar, M. A. (2022). Evaluation of hepatitis B knowledge, practices, and beliefs among the Jordanian population: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One, 17(11), e0277186. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277186

Pathoumthong, K., Khampanisong, P., Quet, F., Latthaphasavang, V., Souvong, V., & Buisson, Y. (2014). Vaccination status, knowledge and awareness towards hepatitis B among students of health professions in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Vaccine, 32(39), 4993–4999. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.07.022

Pourhoseingholi, M. A., Vahedi, M., & Rahimzadeh, M. (2013). Sample size calculation in medical studies. Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench, 6(1), 14–17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24834239

Shepard, C. W., Simard, E. P., Finelli, L., Fiore, A. E., & Bell, B. P. (2006). Hepatitis B virus infection: Epidemiology and vaccination. Epidemiologic Reviews, 28(1), 112–125. https://doi.org/10.1093/epirev/mxj009

Spearman, C. W., Afihene, M., Ally, R., Apica, B., Awuku, Y., Cunha, L., Dusheiko, G., Gogela, N., Kassianides, C., Kew, M., Lam, P., Lesi, O., Lohouès-Kouacou, M. J., Mbaye, P. S., Musabeyezu, E., Musau, B., Ojo, O., Rwegasha, J., Scholz, B., Shewaye, A. B., Tzeuton , C., & Sonderup, M. W. (2017). Hepatitis B in sub-saharan Africa: Strategies to achieve the 2030 elimination targets. Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2(12), 900–909. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-1253(17)30295-9

Stasi, C., Silvestri, C., & Voller, F. (2017). Emerging trends in epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection. Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, 5(3), 272–276. https://doi.org/10.14218/jcth.2017.00010

Trépo, C., Chan, H. L., & Lok, A. (2014). Hepatitis B virus infection. Lancet, 384(9959), 2053–2063. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(14)60220-8

Tripathi, N., & Mousa, O. Y. (2023). Hepatitis B. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555945/

Tu, F., Yang, R., Wang, W., Li, R., Du, G., Liu, Y., Li, W., & Wei, P. (2022). Analysis of knowledge, attitude and practice of hepatitis B among freshmen in Jiangsu based on Lasso-logistic regression and structural equation model. Infection and Drug Resistance, 15, 3063-3073. https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S365728

Wahsheh, M., Hassan, Z., & Hassan Al-Wahsh, F. (2011). Hepatitis knowledge and attitudes among Jordanian nursing students. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 49(1), 9–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2011.10708201

WHO. (2021). Web Annex 2. Data methods. In: Global progress report on HIV, viral

hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, 2021. Accountability for the global health sector

strategies 2016–2021: actions for impact. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/342813/9789240030992-eng.pdf

WHO. (2024). Hepatitis B. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b

Downloads

Published

28-08-2024

How to Cite

Alaridah, N., F. Jarrar, R., Al-oyoun, R. Q., Battah, Z., Battah, A., Al-Shami, K., AlJaafreh, E. A., Abu Al Jlood, H., & Abu-Humaidan, A. H. A. (2024). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards hepatitis B infection among pharmacy students: A cross-sectional study in Jordan. Pharmacy Education, 24(1), p. 490–505. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2024.241.490505

Issue

Section

Research Article