Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Hepatitis B Among Nurses in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant global health burden, with healthcare workers (HCWs) at increased risk due to occupational exposure. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding HBV among nurses in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire distributed to 508 randomly selected nurses. The results revealed that 64.8% of participants had a diploma degree, 30.2% had a bachelor's degree, and 5.0% had a master's/PhD degree. The majority (74.1%) were female, and 35.8% had 4-10 years of work experience. The average knowledge score was 4.01 out of 5, with a relative weight of 80.11%, indicating a high level of knowledge. However, knowledge about preventive measures in healthcare settings ranked lowest (62.71%). The attitude dimension also reflected a high level of agreement (4.02 out of 5; 80.40%), with the importance of following infection control practices to prevent HBV transmission being the most strongly endorsed item (83.00%). The practices dimension had the highest level of agreement (4.16 out of 5; 83.30%), with adherence to standard precautions ranking highest (89.00%). Prompt reporting of potential exposures was the lowest-ranked practice item (80.20%). These findings suggest areas for improvement, including emphasizing preventive measures, ensuring regular training, encouraging prompt exposure reporting, and maintaining comprehensive HBV vaccination programs. Strengthening HCWs' KAP regarding HBV is crucial for reducing occupational risks and improving patient safety in healthcare settings.