Health literacy in patients with chronic hepatitis B attending a tertiary hospital in Melbourne: a questionnaire based survey

BMC Infectious Diseases

Caroline Marshall³  Jennifer H MacLachlan²  Karin Leder¹  Beverley-Ann Biggs³  Benjamin C Cowie²  Tanya FM Dahl³ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Victoria, Australia;Epidemiology Unit, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Grattan St, Parkville, 3050 Victoria, Australia;Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3050 Victoria, Australia

关键词: Management;    Transmission;    Health literacy;    Immigrant health;    Chronic hepatitis B;   

Others  :  1122191
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2334-14-537

 received in 2014-04-08, accepted in 2014-09-24,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Current estimates suggest over 218,000 individuals in Australia are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus. The majority of these people are migrants and refugees born in hepatitis B endemic countries, where attitudes towards health, levels of education, and English proficiency can be a barrier to accessing the Australian health care system, and best managing chronic hepatitis B. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of transmission and consequences of chronic hepatitis B among these patients.

Method

A prospective study was conducted between May and August 2012. Patients with chronic hepatitis B were recruited from three Royal Melbourne Hospital outpatient clinics. Two questionnaires were administered. Questionnaire 1, completed during observation of a prospective participants’ consultation, documented information given to the patient by their clinician. After the consultation, Questionnaire 2 was administered to assess patient demographics, and overall knowledge of the effect, transmission and treatment of hepatitis B.

Results

55 participants were recruited. 93% of them were born overseas, 17% used an interpreter, and the average time since diagnosis was 9.7 years.

Results from Questionnaire 1 showed that the clinician rarely discussed many concepts. Questionnaire 2 exposed considerable gaps in hepatitis B knowledge. Few participants reported a risk of cirrhosis (11%) or liver cancer (18%). There was a high awareness of transmission routes, with 89% correctly identifying sexual transmission, 93% infected blood, and 85% perinatal transmission. However, 25% of participants believed hepatitis B could be spread by sharing food, and over 50% by kissing and via mosquitoes. A knowledge score out of 12 was assessed for each participant. The average score was 7.5. Multivariate analysis found higher knowledge scores among those with a family member also diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B and those routinely seeing the same clinician (p = 0.009 and p = 0.002, respectively).

Conclusion

This is the largest Australian study assessing knowledge and understanding of the effect, transmission, and treatment of hepatitis B among chronically infected individuals. The findings highlight the knowledge gaps and misconceptions held by these patients, and the need to expand education and support initiatives.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Dahl et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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