[Perceptions, knowledge and attitudes about liver disease in healthy adults attending health facilities in stratum A, B and C]. / Percepciones, conocimientos y actitudes sobre enfermedad hepática en adultos sanos que acuden a instituciones de salud de estrato A, B y C.

OBJECTIVE: To find and describe perceptions, beliefs, knowledge and attitudes adopted by healthy people regarding liver disease, who attend at three medical institutions. To estimate how the academic and socioeconomic level operate as determinant factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive transversal study that includes a 31 question-questionnaire made in a group of 390 healthy people who were in the waiting rooms at Hospital Cayetano Heredia (HNCH), Policlinico Peruano Japones (PPJ) and Clinica Angloamericana (CAA), reflecting low, medium and medium-high socio economic status respectively. Data was processed with SPSS software. RESULTS: We found that 218/390 (56%) people had higher education level, and 64% were women. "Eating high-fat meals" had the highest percentage (91%) among perceptions of liver disease. "Bad breath" and "heartburn" were referred as symptoms of liver disease, among people with a higher education level. Less than 50% of people knew about routes of transmission of hepatitis B, associated with its prevention and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Beliefs and wrong perceptions about liver disease are prevalent among people; dyspepsia was inaccurately associated. There is an inappropriate knowledge about routes of transmission, preventive measures and treatment, which was reflected in people with lower education level as well as in those with higher education and socioeconomic level.

Percepciones, conocimientos y actitudes sobre enfermedad hepática en adultos sanos que acuden a instituciones de salud de estrato A, B y C / Perceptions, knowledge and attitudes about liver disease un healthy adults attending health facilities in stratum A, B and C

Objetivo: Identificar y describir percepciones, creencias, conocimientos y actitudes adoptadas frente a enfermedad hepática, en una población adulta sana que acude a 3 instituciones de salud. Estimar si el nivel socioeconómico y educativo actúa como factores determinantes. Material y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y transversal. Se aplicó un cuestionario en una población objetivo de 390 personas sanas que acudían como acompañantes en las salas de espera del Hospital Cayetano Heredia (HNCH), Policlínico Peruano Japonés (PPJ) y Clínica Angloamericana (CAA), reflejando estratos socioeconómicos bajo, medio y medio-alto respectivamente. Los datos obtenidos fueron procesados en el programa estadístico SPSS. Resultados: Del total de encuestados la mayoría fueron mujeres y de instrucción superior. "Mal aliento" y "vinagrera y acidez" fueron considerados como síntomas de enfermedad hepática entre las personas con instrucción superior. Menos del 50% conocía adecuadamente sobre vías de trasmisión de hepatitis B, así como medidas de tratamiento y prevención. Conclusiones: Existe una alta prevalencia de mitos y creencias asociados a enfermedad hepática. Dispepsia fue asociada erróneamente. Se observa que hay un conocimiento inadecuado sobre vías de trasmisión, prevención y tratamiento, reflejándose tanto en las personas con niveles de instrucción más bajos así como en aquellos con nivel educativo y estrato socioeconómico alto.

Objective: To find and describe perceptions, beliefs, knowledge and attitudes adopted by healthy people regarding liver disease, who attend at three medical institutions. To estimate how the academic and socioeconomic level operate as determinant factors. Material and methods: Descriptive transversal study that includes a 31 question-questionnaire made in a group of 390 healthy people who were in the waiting rooms at Hospital Cayetano Heredia (HNCH), Policlinico Peruano Japones (PPJ) and Clinica Angloamericana (CAA), reflecting low, medium and medium-high socio economic status respectively. Data was processed with SPSS software. Results : We found that 218/390 (56%) people had higher education level, and 64% were women. "Eating high- fat meals" had the highest percentage (91%) among perceptions of liver disease. "Bad breath" and "heart burn" were referred as symptoms of liver disease, among people with a higher education level. Less than 50% of people knew about routes of transmission of hepatitis B, associated with its prevention and treatment. Conclusions: Beliefs and wrong perceptions about liver disease are prevalent among people; dyspepsia was inaccurately associated. There is an inappropriate knowledge about routes of transmission, preventive measures and treatment, which was reflected in people with lower education level as well as in those with higher education and socioeconomic level.