Abstract: Objective To investigate and analyze the knowledge and attitude on viral hepatitis in outpatients, and provide the scientific basis for health education on viral hepatitis for healthcare. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among the outpatients in Beijing Friendship Hospital on World Hepatitis Day. Results The awareness rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission routes ranged from 41.5% to 87.3%. Among 118 outpatients, 50.0% and 46.6% knew the disease progress of viral hepatitis B and viral hepatitis C; 59.3% and 57.6% knew when hepatitis B and hepatitis C needs to be treated; 14.4% and 39.0% knew their treatment outcomes. There was significantly lower awareness rate on the outcome of hepatitis B than that of hepatitis C (χ²=17.89,P<0.001). There was no statistically significant different in the awareness rate between the outpatients with and without any principle family member diagnosed as hepatitis patient. Of all outpatients, 39.8% still had prejudice against hepatitis patients. Conclusion It is necessary to fully improve outpatients' knowledge on viral hepatitis transmission routes. Health education on viral hepatitis should be emphasized on the knowledge of different types of liver disease among outpatients and family members of hepatitis patients.

Key words: viral hepatitis, outpatients, knowledge, attitude