Determination of knowledge level and vaccination status of nursing students regarding hepatitis B infection and hepatitis B vaccine

Abstract

Aims: The study was conducted to determine the knowledge level and vaccination status of nursing students regarding hepatitis B infection and hepatitis B vaccine. Methods: The universe of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of 747 students studying at the department of nursing. In the study, a 43-item questionnaire form and the vaccine hesitancy scale were used. Results: Of the students, 77.7% were female. The mean age was 20.68±1.68. Eight percent of the students had a chronic disease and 2.1% were diagnosed with hepatitis (71.4% hepatitis B). Of the students, 77.3% had hepatitis B vaccine. Students stated that those who were injected with the same injector (77.8%), who received blood transfusions (72.2%), and who had heterosexual intercourse ranked in the top three in the hepatitis risk group (63.9%). Students stated that the primary modes of hepatitis transmission were: 93.6% through blood, 78.8% through needlestick injuries with infected injectors, and 72.7% through sexual intercourse. The most accurate information that the students had about hepatitis was the existence of hepatitis B vaccine (96.9%) and hepatitis B carriers (77%). The mean knowledge level of the students about hepatitis was 5.22±1.92. The mean score that the students obtained from the vaccine hesitancy scale was 31.25±6.18. It was found that there was a significant relationship between knowledge level and vaccine hesitancy (p<0.005). Conclusion: Levels of hepatitis B knowledge and vaccine hesitancy are moderate in nursing students. It is recommended to provide training and awareness activities for nursing students in this regard.

Keywords

• Hepatitis
• health knowledge
• vaccine hesitancy
• nursing
• students

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