Knowledge, awareness, attitude, and practice of health-care professionals toward hepatitis B disease and vaccination in Saudi Arabia

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of all participating HCPs

Characteristics	Percentage
Age
<30	45.9
30–50	50.1
>50	4.0
Sex
Male	34.7
Female	65.3
Profession
Physician	16.1
Pharmacist	8.8
Nurse	62.7
Lab technician	7.5
Radiologist	0.2
Dentist	1.9
Technician	2.8
Education
Diploma	22.8
Bachelor	65.2
Higher education or training	11.9
Experience
<5 yrs	46.7
10–15 yrs	33.0
>15 yrs	10.3
Vaccinated against hepatitis B (All required doses)
Yes	83.5
No	16.5

Figure 1. Reasons for non-compliance with vaccination recommendations among non-immunized HCPs

Table 2. HCP knowledge about hepatitis B disease and its vaccine

Questions	Percentage
• Knowledge about hepatitis B disease Which type of hepatitis is more common among the Saudi population?	9.3
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B	52.8
Hepatitis C	19.4
Hepatitis D	1.1
Hepatitis E	17.3
Hepatitis B is not common.
Correct	19.7
Incorrect	73.2
Not sure	7.1
Which body part is most affected by hepatitis B infection?	0.9
Brain
Blood	17.5
Liver	80.1
Kidney	1.5
Hepatitis B is a temporary infection.
Correct	11.1
Incorrect	81.3
Not sure	7.6
Hepatitis B virus is transmitted through.	8.8
Physical contact
Saliva	34
Blood	93.7
From infected mother to child	60.9
Airborne droplet	8.4
Needle sharing	76
Hepatitis B-infected people can spread the infection even when they are feeling well.	72.1
Correct
Incorrect	18.2
Not sure	9.7
People with hepatitis B can transmit the infection only after their symptoms appear.
Correct	9.6
Incorrect	79.4
Not sure	11.0
Healthcare professionals are less susceptible to hepatitis B infections than other people.
Correct	14.7
Incorrect	80.9
Not sure	4.4
• Knowledge about hepatitis B Vaccine Do you think the hepatitis vaccine is effective in preventing hepatitis B infection?
Yes	73.7
No	15.2
I don’t know	11.1
Do you think administering the hepatitis B vaccine should be part of your medical practice?
Yes	88.3
No	6
I don’t know	5.7
Which of the following groups should receive the hepatitis B vaccine?
Children	68.5
Elderly	35.5
Healthcare professionals	85.7
Pregnant women	31.3
Which of the following groups should not receive the hepatitis B vaccine?
Pregnant women	53.4
Immunocompromised	55.3
People with acute disease	38.2
Diabetics	7.8
People allergic to the HBV vaccine	65.6
People with chronic kidney disease	15.8
The hepatitis B vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine.
Correct	59.3
Incorrect	27.8
Not sure	12.9
The hepatitis B vaccine may cause some people to get hepatitis B infection.
Correct	23.7
Incorrect	62
Not sure	14.3
Hepatitis B vaccination does not work for everyone.
Correct	36.7
Incorrect	44.8
Not sure	18.5
You can get hepatitis B vaccine more than once.
Correct	38.2
Incorrect	48.9
Not sure	12.9
The hepatitis B vaccine should not be given to newborn babies.
Correct	25.6
Incorrect	60.9
Not sure	13.5

Table 3. HCP awareness about hepatitis B vaccine

Variables	Yes (%)	No (%)	Don’t know (%)
Are you aware of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines for hepatitis B vaccination?	42.7	57.3	-
Does your hospital have standard procedures and protocols to vaccinate new staff members?	78.8	12.2	9
In your hospital, are you required to have hepatitis B vaccination before you can start working?	71.3	23.2	5.5
Does your practice/center offer the hepatitis B vaccine to patients?	53.4	18.4	28.2
Does your practice/center have standing orders regarding the hepatitis B vaccine?	63.9	12.8	23.4

Figure 2. Barriers to providing hepatitis B vaccine to the public according to the instituations of HCPs

Table 4. Attitude of HCPs towards hepatitis B disease and its vaccine

Questions	Percentage
Towards Hepatitis B Disease  Do you have direct contact with patients or patient samples?
Always	34
Usually	15.1
Sometimes	31.3
Rarely	12
Never	7.6
Is hospital staff at high risk for infectious exposure?
Very high risk	55.9
Somewhat risk	28.4
Low risk	11.8
No risk	1.5
Not sure	2.4
Potential seriousness of hepatitis B infection for yourself is considered:
Very serious	53.6
Serious	26.5
Minor	10.5
Not serious	4.8
Not sure	4.6
Towards Hepatitis B Vaccine Have you or your colleagues participated in any training or continuing education related to the hepatitis B vaccine in the past 12 months?
Yes	26.5
No	60.8
I don’t know	12.7

Table 5. Logistic regression analysis identifying predictors for receiving the hepatitis B vaccine among the participating healthcare professionals

	Odds Ratio (OR)	95% Confidence Interval (CI)
Gender Male (reference)	-	-
Female	2.03	1.02–4.04
There are standard procedures and protocols to vaccinate new staff members No (reference)	-	-
Yes	3.30	1.21–9.00
I don’t know	0.76	0.21–2.76
HCPs are required to have hepatitis B vaccination before they can start working No (reference)	-	-
Yes	1.51	0.63–3.65
I don’t know	2.46	0.37–16.15
There are standing orders regarding Hepatitis B vaccine No (reference)	-	-
Yes	4.83	1.20–12.39
I don’t know	1.52	0.58–3.96
Did HCPs participate in any training or continuing education related to Hepatitis B vaccine in the past 12 months? No (reference)	-	-
Yes	0.57	0.23–1.38
I don’t know	1.11	0.36–3.40
HBV vaccine is very effective in preventing hepatitis B infection No (reference)	-	-
Yes	0.74	0.28–2.22
I don’t know	0.37	0.10–1.51
Awareness of CDC/ACIP guidelines No (reference)		-
Yes	2.80	1.13–6.94
I don’t know	0.05	0.01–0.79