Predicting Hepatitis B Preventive Behaviors among Hospital Staff through Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Behavioral Intention

Document Type : Descriptive & Survey

Authors

1 Department of Environmental health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

2 Clinical Research Development Unit, Rajae Hospital, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

3 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

10.58209/hehp.14.2.333
Abstract
Aims: Hepatitis B virus infection is a major public health concern. This study aimed to determine the relationship between knowledge, risk perceptions, and behavioral intention in predicting preventive behaviors toward hepatitis B virus.
Instrument & Methods: This descriptive-analytic, cross-sectional study was conducted among 662 healthcare workers between April and August 2025. Participants were selected through proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a four-part questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, hepatitis B virus-related knowledge, personal and general population risk perceptions, behavioral intention, and behavior. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 utilizing independent t-tests, Pearson correlation, analysis of variance, and multivariable linear regression.
Findings: The mean age of the participants was 32.38±6.53 years. The mean scores were 5.98±1.16 for knowledge, 7.96±1.63 for personal risk perceptions, 18.20±2.77 for general population risk perceptions, and 10.68±2.22 for behavioral intention. Multivariable regression analysis showed that knowledge (β=0.188; p=0.0001), personal risk perceptions (β=0.134; p=0.001), intention (β=0.097; p=0.012), and general population risk perceptions (β=0.157; p=0.0001) explained the behavior scores.
Conclusion: Healthcare workers have good knowledge of HBV and a strong awareness of their occupational risk.

Keywords

Subjects

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