BACKGROUND: Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is a major public health concern in the Philippines where one out of eight Filipinos is infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Studies in the US among family physicians and in Canada among family medicine trainees have found that there were knowledge gaps with regards to CHB.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the knowledge on prevention, detection, and management of Chronic Hepatitis B among family medicine residents in Metro Cebu.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire focused on Hepatitis B vaccination, screening of at-risk patients, diagnostic testing, recognizing and managing patients with CHB and cirrhosis. The tool was adopted from a nationwide survey of Canadian family medicine trainees on hepatitis B. This was distributed to all family medicine residents of accredited training hospitals in Cebu.
RESULTS: Thirty-nine family medicine residents in total were able to participate in the survey. On routine vaccination for hepatitis B, 69% respondents recommended it to their patients. However, only 5% were able to correctly identify the recommended screening tests for Hepatitis B status and 36% of respondents used ALT/AST as an initial screening test for HBV. In correctly interpreting serologic patterns of HBV, 72% to 87% were able to answer correctly but only 8% were able to identify CHB patients who are at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
CONCLUSION: Results show that family medicine residents of Cebu need a review and an update in their knowledge on vaccination, use of appropriate screening tests, identifying risk factors for hepatitis B and recognizing those at risk for cirrhosis. Improvements in this area could help the trainees in decreasing risk of transmission for HBV; assist patients in receiving appropriate counsel, medical service and proper monitoring and assessment for treatment.