255682 Evaluation of a Hepatitis B Lay Health Worker Intervention for Cambodians

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Vicky Taylor, MD, MPH , Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Roshan Bastani, PhD , Department of Health Services, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Nancy J. Burke, PhD , Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Jocelyn Talbot , Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Channdara Sos, MBA , Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Qi Liu, MS , Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Hoai Do, MPH , Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
J. Carey Jackson, MD MA MPH , Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Yutaka Yasui, PhD , Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Background: Cambodian Americans have an elevated risk of liver cancer. This health disparity is attributable to high rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. All immigrants from endemic areas of the world and their US-born children should be tested for HBV. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate a HBV lay health worker intervention for Cambodian Americans. Methods: Our trial was conducted in metropolitan Seattle. The study group included 250 Cambodians who responded to a community-based in-person survey, and indicated they had never received HBV testing. Experimental group participants received a lay health worker home visit addressing HBV and control group participants received a lay health worker home visit addressing physical activity. The HBV lay health worker intervention included print and audio-visual educational materials. Trial participants completed an in-person followup survey addressing HBV testing and HBV-related knowledge six months after randomization. Results: Over four-fifths (82%) of randomized individuals completed lay health worker home visits. At followup, 22% of the experimental group and 3% of the control group reported HBV testing in the previous six months (p<0.001). Additionally, levels of HBV-related knowledge were higher among the experimental group than among the control group. For example, 62% of the experimental group versus 29% of the control group knew that Cambodians are more likely to be infected with HBV than whites (p<0.001). Conclusions: Lay health worker interventions are acceptable to Cambodian Americans, are feasible to implement in Cambodian communities, and can positively impact levels of HBV testing and HBV-related knowledge.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
List the components of a culturally and linguistically appropriate hepatitis B outreach intervention for Cambodian Americans. Describe the impact of a lay health worker intervention for Cambodians on levels of hepatitis B testing and hepatitis B-related knowledge.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Project Coordinator for this study and oversee the day-to-day project activities as well as the data collection.
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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