A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY TO DETERMINE THE KNOWLEDGE LEVELS REGARDING HYDATID CYST AMONG NURSES, DIETITIANS AND FOOD TECHNICIANS IN TURKEY

Hydatid cyst (HC) is an important public health problem and has economical impact. We aimed to evaluate knowledge levels of nurses, dietitians and food technicians regarding HC in Turkey. A survey was performed with a questionnaire for HC. Results were evaluated by percentage and analyzed by chi-square test. Nurses, dietitians and food technicians have information about HC with percentages 89.13%, 53.06% and 40.00% (p<0.05). Food technicians knew what they must do infected organs (80.00%), nurses knew where cysts in the intermediate host seen mostly (86.95%), food technicians knew if cysts on internal organs can generate new cysts (85.00%), nurses knew if it play role in transmission that not washing the vegetables (92.39%) (p<0.05), dietitians knew if dogs are responsible for transmitting the HC (95.91%) with highest rates. Nurses, dietitians and food technicians said that they have ever participated to informative course about HC with percentages of 47.82%, 18.36% and 25.00% (p<0.05) and they said that there are some person who treated for HC around them with percentages of 17.39%, 2.04% and 10.00% (p<0.05). Nurses were found well-informed compared to others. Since some professionals have insufficient information it is recommended that information studies about HC should be performed in Turkey urgently.