The Internet Journal of Healthcare Administration ISSN: 1531-2933 Knowledge And Acceptance Of Hepatitis B Vaccine Mahmoud Al-Hussami Doctor of Health Science Program Nova Southeastern University Citation: M Al-Hussami: Knowledge And Acceptance Of Hepatitis B Vaccine The Internet Journal of Healthcare Administration 2004 Volume Number Abstract Importance of the problem: The potential for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) transmission in the occupational setting is greater than for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) The center for disease control (CDC) estimates that 18,000 healthcare workers whose jobs involve exposure to blood became infected with HBV each year As a result, 250 people will die of fulminate hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.Objective: To determine the effects of perceived threat and knowledge level about hepatitis B Virus on the motivation to accept hepatitis B vaccine.Design: Cross sectional study in design, based on the elements of the health belief model framework The independent variables (perceived barriers, perceived susceptibility and perceived severity) were analyzed to determine their direct and indirect effects on the outcome (receiving hepatitis B vaccine).Subjects: 260 healthcare workers in Miami-Dade County.Results: 260 (80%) of the healthcare workers responded 84.6% (n = 220) of the staff have had the hepatitis B vaccine Whereas, 15.4% (n = 40) didn't have the vaccine The majority of healthcare workers who had not been vaccinated are concerned about side effects of the vaccine No significant relationship was found between perceived severity and acceptance of HB vaccine However, there was a significant relationship between perceived susceptibility, knowledge and acceptance of the HB vaccine.Conclusions: The percentage of healthcare workers in this study who have had the HB vaccine is considerably higher than that reported in the literature for all healthcare workers The variable of perceived severity was not a predictor of hepatitis B vaccine acceptance; the variables of perceived susceptibility and knowledge level were predictors of HB vaccine acceptance Publication Note: A practicum report presented to College of Allied Health in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Health ScienceBRBR Nova Southeastern UniversityBR Fall, 2003 Acknowledgments Several persons provided information, assistance, and support me during this project I am grateful to all administrators, nursing directors and staff members at Larkin Community Hospital, Fair Haven Center, Mercy Nursing Home, and Oceanside Extended Care, for their support and assistance in conducting this study My sincere thanks go to the healthcare workers who completed the questionnaires and to Ms Marlene Phipps for her support Dr Richard Davis, my practicum chair person, gave me encouragement and insisted on excellence, and I thank him I am grateful to Dr Guy Nehrenz, Chair, Department of Health Science at Nova Southeastern University, for his support and assistance in formulating this study Muna Al-Hussami, my wife, gave me encouragement and insisted on excellence, and I thank her Finally, I dedicate this to my mother Jameelah and my two daughters, Rawan and Razan, who allowed me to share my thoughts on this research ... assistance, and support me during this project I am grateful to all administrators, nursing directors and staff members at Larkin Community Hospital, Fair Haven Center, Mercy Nursing Home, and Oceanside... encouragement and insisted on excellence, and I thank him I am grateful to Dr Guy Nehrenz, Chair, Department of Health Science at Nova Southeastern University, for his support and assistance... Al-Hussami, my wife, gave me encouragement and insisted on excellence, and I thank her Finally, I dedicate this to my mother Jameelah and my two daughters, Rawan and Razan, who allowed me to share my