Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107713

Hueifang Chen, PhD¹, Shin-Ping Tu, MD, MPH², Chong Teh, PhD³, Mei-Po Yip, RN, PhD⁴, John H. Choe, MD, MPH⁵, Greg Hislop, MD MPH³, Victoria M. Taylor, MD, MPH⁶, and Beti Thompson, PhD⁶. (1) General Internal Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, 325 9th Ave, Box 359780, Seattle, WA 98104, (2) Division of General Internal Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359780, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-744-1835, shinping@u.washington.edu, (3) British Columbia Cancer Agency, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5z 4E6, Canada, (4) Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, 325 Ninth, Seattle, WA 98104, (5) Biobehavioral Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program, University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, P.O. Box 19024, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., MP-702, Seattle, WA 98109, (6) Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, PO Box 19024, M3-B232, 1100 Fairview Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109-1024

The study objectives were to obtain information from less acculturated North American Chinese adults about the hepatitis prevention behavior and the knowledge and perceptions of hepatitis, screening and vaccination. Forty Chinese men and women, ages 18 to 64, were recruited from two Chinese communities in Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. Semi-structured interviews conducted in Cantonese or Mandarin were audiotaped, translated into English, transcribed verbatim, and coded independently. Open coding, axial coding, constant comparison analysis and the QSR N5 computer program were used for data coding and analysis.

Findings indicate many interviewees lacked accurate knowledge of hepatitis, often confusing the different types. Perceived causes of hepatitis include: contact with infected individuals, food that damages the liver, heredity, alcohol, lack of rest, and smoking. Preventive strategies associated with Chinese health beliefs include using Chinese herbal tea/medicine, maintaining a stress-free mind, and having sufficient rest. Other preventive strategies were practicing good hygiene, avoiding contact with infected persons, strengthening the body's immune system, and vaccination. Vaccination was not identified as a major preventive strategy. Of those aware of hepatitis vaccination, many did not voluntarily mention vaccination as a means for hepatitis prevention until probed by interviewers. Furthermore, they lacked accurate knowledge regarding the types and purposes of hepatitis vaccination, and had concerns of potential or unknown vaccination side effects.

In conclusion, approaches to promote hepatitis prevention among North American Chinese should take Chinese lay beliefs and practice into consideration for the most favorable outcomes.

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