Capacity building of healthcare workers: Key step towards elimination of viral hepatitis in developing countries

Aayushi Rastogi; Sapna Chauhan; Archana Ramalingam; Madhavi Verma; Seena Babu; Sarita Ahwal; Akanksha Bansal

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253539

Capacity building of healthcare workers: Key step towards elimination of viral hepatitis in developing countries

PLoS One. 2021 Jun 24;16(6):e0253539. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253539. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Aayushi Rastogi¹, Sapna Chauhan², Archana Ramalingam¹, Madhavi Verma³, Seena Babu⁴, Sarita Ahwal³, Akanksha Bansal²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India.
² Project ECHO & PRAKASH, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India.
³ College of Nursing, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India.
⁴ Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India.

Abstract

Background: Lack of awareness about viral hepatitis (VH) potentially predisposes the healthcare workers (HCWs) to a higher risk of infection and may in turn increase the risk of transmission of the infection to their families and in the community. Thus, combating VH, requires adequate and updated training to the HCWs. With this objective, Project PRAKASH designed a meticulously planned training program, aimed to assess the effect of a one-day training on VH among in-service nurses.

Methods and material: The content and schedule of scientific sessions of the training program were decided by subject experts to improve knowledge, attitude and practice(KAP) related to VH among in-service nurses. A 54-item questionnaire divided into four domains: Transmission and Risk Factors; Prevention; Treatment; Pathophysiology and Disease Progression were used to assess the KAP related to VH. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: demographic details, knowledge(30-items), attitude(12-items) and practice(12-itmes) with a total score of 30, 60 and 24 respectively in each section. The pre-post knowledge assessment was done and impact assessment survey was undertaken among the participants who completed six months post-training period. Paired-t-test was used to assess the effect of training on knowledge using SPSSv-22.

Results: A total of 5253 HCWs were trained through 32 one-day trainings, however data for 4474 HCWs was included in final pre-post knowledge analysis after removing the missing/incomplete data. Mean age of participants was 33.7±8.4 with median experience of 8(IQR: 3-13). Mean improvement in knowledge score was found to be significant (p<0.001) with mean knowledge score of 19.3±4.4 in pre-test and 25.7±3.9 in the post-test out of 30. Impact assessment survey suggested change in attitude and practice of HCWs.

Conclusion: The one-day training programs helped the in-service nurses to enhance their knowledge related to viral hepatitis. The study provided a roadmap to combating viral hepatitis through health education among HCWs about viral hepatitis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Developing Countries
Education, Medical, Continuing*
Female
Health Personnel / education*
Hepatitis, Viral, Human* / metabolism
Hepatitis, Viral, Human* / pathology
Hepatitis, Viral, Human* / physiopathology
Hepatitis, Viral, Human* / therapy
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Surveys and Questionnaires*

Grants and funding

The present work was undertaken by the project PRAKASH, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences which was supported by grant received by CIPLA foundation via grant number CSR/HO/412/2017-2018 under its corporate social responsibility policy. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.