- Title
- Barriers to the acceptance of work colleagues infected with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in Japan
- Creator
- Ishimaru, Tomohiro; Wada, Koji; Arphorn, Sara; Smith, Derek R.
- Relation
- Journal of Occupational Health Vol. 58, Issue 3, p. 269-275
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1539/joh.15-0288-OA
- Publisher
- Japan Society for Occupational Health
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2016
- Description
- 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.
- Subject
- hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C virus; nurses; stigma
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1344162
- Identifier
- uon:29344
- Identifier
- ISSN:1341-9145
- Language
- eng
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