220558 Impact of culturally-integrated liver cancer education on hepatitis B knowledge among Asian Americans

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

Hee-Soon Juon, PhD , Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Janice Bowie, PhD, MPH , Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Lu Chen , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Sunmin Lee, ScD, MPH , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD
  
Background: 1.3 million Americans are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for over half of the HBV cases, higher than any other racial/ethnic groups. Asian Americans are often diagnosed with late stage liver cancer because of a lack of knowledge of liver cancer prevention. This study examines the effect of a culturally integrated liver cancer education program on knowledge of HBV infection at the immediate posttest following the intervention.

Methods: This intervention is part of an ongoing longitudinal study. To date (2/1/2010), 277 participants from the intervention group have completed a self-administered pretest and posttest following a 60-minute educational program. Participants were recruited from community-based organizations. Paired simple t- test and one way repeated measures ANOVA were used.

Results: Knowledge of HBV transmission mode at pretest (M=4.54, SD=2.25) versus at immediate posttest (M=8.79, SD=1.36) was significant, t(276)=29.76, p<.001. Knowledge of sequel of HBV and HBV infection risk factors were also significantly increased after the intervention (t(276)=19.55, p<.01 for sequel; t(276)=19.32, p<.01 for high risk). ANOVA showed that age and education level were significantly related to change in knowledge: Older participants with less than high school education reported less change in knowledge.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that education programs have increased HBV knowledge and awareness, which may lead to an increase in HBV screening tests and vaccination for liver cancer prevention. Older and less educated individuals will require that special attention be paid to meeting their educational needs for liver cancer prevention and control.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
To evaluate the effect of eductional program on knowledge of hepatitis B infection after the intervention To provide the public health implication on educational programs

Keywords: Asian Americans, Intervention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am the Principal Investigator to oversee programs.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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