Evaluation of the awareness of the clinical and epidemiological significance of hepatitis B virus among health care students

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects millions of people worldwide with a massive global burden of disease. Students must understand the clinical significance and epidemiology of HBV infection and associated diseases. This study attempts to assess the knowledge and awareness of HBV infection and its clinical and pathological consequences among several types of health care students at Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada including medical, pharmacy and faculty of medicine graduate students. Overall, the data collected through this questionnaire determined that there is a poor level of knowledge of HBV and its infection in medical and graduate medical students. There is a good level of knowledge of these subjects in pharmacy students. Despite the fact that approximately 1% of the population in North America is affected by HBV, students should be aware of the long lasting consequences of this infection and global burden it has on the health care system.