The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge of dental hygiene students about hepatitis B including its seriousness, dissemination, infection route and prevention in an effort to lay the foundation for dental hygiene health education geared toward dental hygiene students who were going to work in clinical field. The subjects in this study were 134 dental hygiene freshmen, 124 sophomores and 102 juniors in some region. The survey was conducted from April 1, to April 14, 2008. A SPSS 10.0 for Windows was used for statistical analysis. The findings of the study were as follows: After a survey was conducted, the following findings were given:
1. As for the seriousness of hepatitis B, 79.6 percent of the students investigated were correctly aware of it, and 20.3 percent had the wrong knowledge. By academic year, the rates of the juniors, sophomores and freshmen who had a correct knowledge stood at 92.6 percent, 84.8 percent and 84.4 percent respectively. Thus, the students were better knowledgeable with academic year.
2. As for dissemination of hepatitis B, 55.6 percent of the students investigated were correctly aware of it, and 44.3 percent had the wrong knowledge. By academic year, the rates of the juniors, sophomores and freshmen who had a correct knowledge stood at 60.3 percent, 54.8 percent and 52.7 percent respectively. Thus, the students were better knowledgeable with academic year.
3. As for infection route, 46.8 percent of the students investigated were correctly aware of it, and 51.4 percent had the wrong knowledge. By academic year, the rates of the juniors, sophomores and freshmen who had a correct knowledge stood at 42.9 percent, 44.8 percent and 56.7 percent respectively. Thus, the students were lower knowledgeable with academic year.
4. As for prevention of hepatitis B, 64.7 percent of the students investigated were correctly aware of it, and 35.3 percent had the wrong knowledge. By academic year, the rates of the juniors, sophomores and freshmen who had a correct knowledge stood at 71.3 percent, 66.5 percent and 58.4 percent respectively. Thus, the students were better knowledgeable with academic year.
5. As for general knowledge of hepatitis B 52.4 percent of the students investigated were correctly aware of it, and 47.6 percent had the wrong knowledge. By academic year, the rates of the juniors, sophomores and freshmen who had a correct knowledge stood at 54.7 percent, 52.6 percent and 50.7 percent respectively. Thus, the students were better knowledgeable with academic year.
The findings of the study indicated that many of the students gave the right answers to the questions about the seriousness and prevention of hepatitis B, and that the rate of the correct answers about the route of dissemination was lowest. Accordingly, students should be taught to have a correct understanding of hepatitis B to help provide appropriate preventive treatment and take proper measures.