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Table 2 Physicians’ knowledge about HBV in relation to their qualifications (correct answer rates)

From: Knowledge, attitudes and practice of primary health care physicians towards hepatitis B virus in Al-Jouf province, Saudi Arabia

Question item: (correct answer) ‡

Correct; n = 159 (%)

PHC physicians’ qualifications

X2

P value

MBBS; (n = 96)

Diploma, (n = 23)

Masters degree, (n = 29)

Board or PhD (n = 11)

Acute infection may cause nonspecific symptoms; (T)

140 (88.1)

89 (92.7)

19 (82.6)

24 (82.8)

8 (72.7)

7.126

0.129

Chronic infection is characterized by persistence of HBsAg (with or without concurrent HBeAg); (>6 months).

96 (60.4)

60 (62.5)

13 (56.5)

18 (62.1)

5 (45.5)

14.577

0.556

Chronic infection will develop in almost all children infected perinatally; (T)

64 (40.3)

39 (40.6)

8 (34.8)

13 (44.8)

4 (36.4)

9.139

0.331

Transmission after needlestick is higher for HIV in comparison with HBV; (F)

89 (56.0)

54 (56.3)

9 (39.1)

20 (69.0)

6 (54.5)

8.711

0.367

Seven genotypes of HBV have been identified labeled A through G; (F)

46 (28.9)

22 (22.9)

9 (39.1)

10 (34.5)

5 (45.5)

15.618

0.209

Mothers who are both HBsAg and hepatitis B “e” antigen (HBeAg)-positive pass the virus perinatally to 70% to 90% of their offspring; (T)

123 (77.4)

72 (75.0)

18 (78.3)

24 (82.8)

9 (81.8)

5.085

0.748

Treatment for chronic viral hepatitis B is very expensive and not always effective; (T)

119 (74.8)

71 (74.0)

14 ( 58.3)

24 (82.8)

10 (90.9)

10.275

0.246

The most effective means to prevent HBV infection is through vaccination; (T)

127 (79.9)

77 (80.2)

18 (78.3)

24 (82.8)

8 (72.7)

5.812

0.668

HBV replicates only hepatocytes; (T)

97 (61.0)

54 (56.3)

15 (65.2)

21 (72.4)

7 (63.6)

9.117

0.693

  1. ‡ Some physicians did not respond to some items in some questions; HBV- Hepatitis B virus; T = true, F = false.