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The Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
2009, Volume 20, No 2, Page(s) 104-107

Awareness of hepatitis C virus transmission routes among patients, their
household contacts and health care staff: Does perception match the reality?


Arzu TİFTİKÇİ1, Özlen ATUĞ2, Nurdan TÖZÜN1
Department of 1Gastroenterology, Acıbadem University, School of Medicine, and
Department of 2Gastroenterology, Marmara University, School of Medicine,
İstanbul

Summary
Background/aims: The worldwide seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection is
around 3%. Since there is no effective vaccine, a major effort should be given
to counselling both HCV-infected patients and those at risk of infection. Our
aim was to determine the awareness of the transmission routes of hepatitis C
virus in health care staff (HC staff), HCV-infected patients and their household
contacts. Methods: A reliable and valid self-report inquiry consisting of 14
questions was completed by 397 HC staff (75 first-year, 75 last-year medical
students, 89 dentists, 71 pharmacists, 87 nurses), 68 HCV-infected patients and
62 household contacts. All subjects were asked about the various modes of
transmission of hepatitis C virus. Results: Ninetyseven percent of the HC staff,
85% of hepatitis C virus patients and 90% of household contacts were aware of
the parenteral transmission of hepatitis C virus. Ninety percent of HC staff,
54% of hepatitis C virus
patients and 66% of household contacts admitted the role of sexual
transmission, with significant difference between the subgroups of HC staff (p


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