Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious liver disease that disproportionately affects Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants. In May 2014, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released new HBV screening guidelines that expanded screening to non-pregnant adolescents and adults who were born in Asia and the Pacific Islands, and U.S.-born persons not vaccinated as infants whose parents were born in Central or Southeast Asia. Although the guidelines empower health care providers and community health workers to expand their screening efforts, old barriers to screening remain deeply rooted in this population. These barriers include cultural beliefs about wellness, myths and misconceptions about HBV, and lack of access to appropriate, culturally sensitive care. Through a combination of strategies—retooling the current health care workforce to be more culturally sensitive providers, involving oriental medicine practitioners in patient education, and engaging grassroots organizations—we can overcome barriers and take full advantage of the new HBV screening guidelines. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Screening Barriers Hepatitis B Guidelines Asian and Pacific Islanders

Practice Guidelines as Topic Asian Americans Asian American Pacific islands Oceanic Ancestry Group Cultural Competency mass screening ethnology Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice cultural competence practice guideline attitude to health organization and management human Humans Hepatitis B, Chronic psychology Asia