Objective To understand the level of professional knowledge of hepatitis C prevention and control among practicing clinicians in Jiangxi province, and to provide a reference for targeted training and development of in-hospital hepatitis C case screening and management policies.

Methods Using stratified cluster sampling and the questionnaire of the "National Implementation Plan for Hepatitis C Knowledge Awareness Rate Survey" developed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we conducted an on-site anonymous survey of 752 practicing clinicians aged 21 – 60 years in 10 hospitals in 5 counties and districts of Jiangxi province from August 2021 to May 2022. Participants who correctly answered 12 out of 16 questions on hepatitis C detection, diagnosis, and treatment from the questionnaire were classified as having professional knowledge of hepatitis C prevention and control. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the associated factors influencing hepatitis C awareness among clinicians.

Results Among 751 participants with valid responses, 17.0% were assessed as having professional knowledge of hepatitis C prevention and control, with lower proportions of participants correctly answering "diagnostic classification of hepatitis C cases" (7.0%), "diagnostic basis for clinical diagnosis of hepatitis C cases" (7.0%), and "correct practices after diagnosis of hepatitis C cases" (33.9%). Compared with surgeons, clinicians working in infectious disease departments (odds ratio OR = 8.308, 95% confidence interval 95%CI: 3.746 – 18.427) and internal medicine departments (OR = 1.855, 95%CI: 1.011 – 3.406) were more likely to have higher awareness of professional knowledge. Compared to those with a bachelor′s degree, clinicians with a master's degree or higher were more likely to have a higher awareness of professional knowledge (OR = 1.750, 95%CI: 1.157 – 2.647).

Conclusions The awareness level of professional knowledge on hepatitis C prevention and control is low and mainly influenced by work department and education among practicing clinicians in Jiangxi province.