Hepatitis B and C Patient’ Education and Counselling Support by Healthcare Professionals at Ngwelezane Tertiary Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Abstract

This study investigates the important role of healthcare professionals in providing support through
counselling and education to Hepatitis B and C Patients at Ngwelezane Tertiary Hospital,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Information carrier factors of a comprehensive model of
information seeking were applied to predict the implications of counselling and education
provided by healthcare providers at Ngwelezane Tertiary Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Quantitative data were collected from doctors and nurses using the probability cluster sampling
technique. Semi-structured printed questionnaires were administered to doctors and nurses who
consented to participate in the quantitative data collection. A correlation test of FISHER and a
Chi-square test was used for data analysis to enable the researchers to describe the relationship
between different modalities of respondents' bio-data and responses. Findings revealed that most
of the doctors and nurses counselled hepatitis B and C patients using verbal and direct methods
during consultations and while receiving treatment in the hospital. In contrast, there was diverse
opinion about type of education programs that healthcare providers have for hepatitis B and C
patients while receiving treatment at the hospital. This study concludes that counselling and health
education focusing on HBV and HCV disease is essential for the prevention, management and
possible eradication among community members and hospitals. Implementing health guidelines
on hepatitis eradication programs by World Health Organisation is crucial to supporting the
creation of health-related educational, counselling, and social awareness programs for patients
visiting hospital facilities especially in developing countries.