Barriers to the acceptance of work colleagues infected with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in Japan
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- Ishimaru Tomohiro
- Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University Occupational Health Training Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
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- Wada Koji
- Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine
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- Arphorn Sara
- Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University
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- Smith Derek R.
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle
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Abstract
Background: Healthcare workers infected with Hepatitis B (HBV) or Hepatitis C virus (HCV) may undertake patient care activities if provider-to-patient transmission risks have been assessed in terms of viral load and clinical procedures. The present study investigated potential barriers to the acceptance of colleagues infected with HBV/HCV in healthcare settings after appropriate risk assessment. Methods: We conducted an anonymous, internet-based survey of Japanese nurses. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to assess factors associated with willingness to accept colleagues infected with HBV/HCV after risk assessment. Results: In total, 992 nurses responded to the survey, with 16% indicating that colleagues infected with HBV/HCV should not have patient contact after risk assessment. Willingness to accept HBV/HCV-infected colleagues was negatively associated with attitudes regarding the avoidance of contact with HBV/HCV-infected colleagues (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.28-0.85). Previous professional contact with HBV/HCV patients (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.36-2.12), experience of accidental injection from or personal exposure to HBV/HCV patients (OR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.42-2.61), knowledge of HBV/HCV (OR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.52-2.49), and female sex (OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.17-2.09) were positively associated with a willingness to accept HBV/HCV-infected colleagues. Conclusions: This study suggests that attitudes regarding the avoidance of contact with HBV/HCV-infected colleagues may be barriers to accepting these colleagues even after risk assessment has been performed. To protect the employment of nurses infected with HBV/HCV, employers should provide comprehensive education for nurses to reduce stigma and improve understanding about the management of staff infected with infectious diseases, such as HBV or HCV.
Journal
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- Journal of Occupational Health
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Journal of Occupational Health 58 (3), 269-275, 2016
Japan Society for Occupational Health
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Keywords
Details 詳細情報について
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- CRID
- 1390001204455430016
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- NII Article ID
- 130005157437
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- NII Book ID
- AA11090645
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- ISSN
- 13489585
- 13419145
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- NDL BIB ID
- 027337930
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- PubMed
- 27108645
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- Text Lang
- en
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- Data Source
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- JaLC
- NDL
- Crossref
- PubMed
- CiNii Articles
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- Abstract License Flag
- Disallowed