Chronic hepatitis C infection: how much are physicians aware of?

Abstract

AimThe purpose of our study is to measure the awareness of hepatitis C among physicians employed in Istanbul, and investigate the relationship between awareness and the specialization field, age and presence of chronic hepatitis/positive family history.Material and methodsLevel of awareness of 125 family physicians and 76 internal medicine physicians, employed within Istanbul Province, on hepatitis C infection were evaluated using standard questionnaire. Relationship between their awareness and age, specialization, presence of any chronic hepatitis and chronic hepatitis C in any relatives were investigated.ResultsThe mean age of the physicians was 30.9 ±7.1 years (range: 23–45 years) and 58% of them were women. Seventy-five (37.3%) physicians were between ages of 23–28, 67 (33.3%) physicians were between ages of 29–32, and 59 (29.4%) physicians ages was greater than 32. Twenty-one (10.4%) physicians had hepatitis or a first-or second-degree relative with hepatitis. Physicians were found to be insufficient in answering the questions on hepatitis C virus transmission routes and who should be screened. When examined based on transmission routes, there were no significant differences between physicians’ specializations and positive familial history, but physicians aged 23–28 had significantly poorer awareness at some points. Internal medicine specialists had better awareness on screening tests compared to family physicians but there were no significant differences between positive familial history and physicians’ age.ConclusionsPhysicians’ awareness should be improved to prevent hepatitis C virus transmission and to identify existing conditions.

Physician awareness of hepatitis C virus among different departments

“…In the survey study of 125 family physicians and 76 internal medicine physicians by Kayar et al it was found that the awareness of physicians about transmission routes and the patient groups needing to be screened for anti-HCV was low [17]. Another study revealed that the success of the disease treatment is asso-ciated with the knowledge of primary care physicians on the diagnosis and screening of HCV [18].…”

Evaluation of patients whose HCV serology was investigated in our hospital between 2010-2018

“…Awareness about HCV diagnosis and treatment among physicians has been evaluated in some studies. Kayar et al determined that the physicians were insufficient in answering the questions on HCV screening [19]. A survey study reported that 44% of the Chinese nonspecialist physicians thought that anti-HCV positive patients do not need the further examination [20].…”