Hepatitis B Screening and Vaccination Practices in Asian American Primary Care.
- Author:
Danny CHU
1
;
Ju Dong YANG
;
Anna S LOK
;
Tram TRAN
;
Eduardo Bruno MARTINS
;
Elizabeth FAGAN
;
Franck ROUSSEAU
;
W Ray KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hepatitis B virus;
Chronic hepatitis B
- MeSH:
Adult;
Asian Americans;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Chicago;
Data Collection;
Hepatitis;
Hepatitis B;
Hepatitis B virus;
Hepatitis B, Chronic;
Humans;
Liver Neoplasms;
Los Angeles;
Mass Screening;
New York;
Prevalence;
Primary Health Care;
San Francisco;
Vaccination
- From:Gut and Liver
2013;7(4):450-457
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recommended in populations with anticipated prevalence > or =2%. This study surveyed HBV screening and vaccination practices of Asian American primary care providers (PCPs). METHODS: Approximately 15,000 PCPs with Asian surnames in the New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Chicago areas were invited to participate in a web-based survey. Asian American PCPs with > or =25% Asian patients in their practice were eligible. RESULTS: Of 430 (2.9%) survey respondents, 217 completed the survey. Greater than 50% followed > or =200 Asian patients. Although 95% of PCPs claimed to have screened patients for HBV, 41% estimated that < or =25% of their adult Asian patients had ever been screened, and 50% did not routinely screen all Asian patients. In a multivariable analysis, the proportion of Asian patients in the practice, provider geographic origin and the number of liver cancers diagnosed in the preceding 12 months were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of screening for HBV. Over 80% of respondents reported that < or =50% of their adult Asian patients had received the HBV vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Screening and vaccination for HBV in Asian American patients is inadequate. Measures to improve HBV knowledge and care by primary-care physicians are critically needed.
