KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT ON HEPATITIS B INFECTION AMONG BHARATHI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY STUDENTS

Dr. Bhanushree D. M.*, Dr. Vishwas A. T. L., Chethan B., Vinutha M. D., Nandan H. N,

ABSTRACT

Background: The Hepatitis B virus is responsible for approximately 1.5 million deaths worldwide each year. Carriers of HBV are at increased risk of developing cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). Objectives: To assess the knowledge of Pharmacy students about hepatitis B infection. Study design: A survey based prospective study was conducted at Bharathi College of Pharmacy students, Bharathinagara. Information was collected from the participants in their leisure time using a pre-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on studies reported in Journals. Totally the questionnaire had 42 questions with 5 sections and each section focused on different aspects of disease such socio-demographic information, routes of transmission, mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, sequel, prevention and treatment of HBV. All the participants were explained about the study and the questions were asked to them in detail to ensure complete comprehension. Result: Totally 333 students participated in the study. Among these 85 were D Pharm students, 106 were B Pharm students, 124 were Pharm D students and 18 were M Pharm students. In our study pharm D students having more knowledge i.e 88.08% followed by B. pharm students 84.51%, D. pharm students 77.33% and M. pharm students having 76.11% of knowledge. Our study shows that all participants having more knowledge about treatment of hepatitis B virus. Conclusion: All pharmacy students have very good knowledge about Hepatitis B virus. Study reveals that pharm D (88.08%) students having more knowledge and M. Pharm students having least knowledge about HBV.

Keywords: HBV, Hepatitis B virus, type B hepatitis, serum hepatitis, homologous serum jaundice, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), Prospective study.