Canadian Journal of Public Health
Volume 100, Issue 6, 2009, Pages 463-466

Evaluation of a hepatitis B educational ESL curriculum for Chinese immigrants (Article)

Taylor V.M. , The C. , Lam W. , Acorda E. , Li L. , Coronado G. , Yasui Y. , Bajdik C. , Hislop G.
  • a Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
  • b Cancer Control Research Program, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • c Cancer Control Research Program, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • d Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
  • e Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
  • f Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
  • g Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
  • h Cancer Control Research Program, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • i Cancer Control Research Program, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Abstract

Objectives: According to recent census data, 1,216,600 Canadians are of Chinese descent, and over 80% of Chinese Canadians are foreign born. Approximately 10% of Chinese immigrants are chronic carriers of hepatitis B, compared with less than 0.5% of the general population. English as a second language (ESL) classes provide ready access for individuals with limited English proficiency who are not reached by English language health education materials and media campaigns. We conducted a group-randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a hepatitis B ESL educational curriculum for Chinese immigrants. Methods: Five community-based organizations that provide ESL education in the greater Vancouver area participated in the study. Forty-one ESL classes (which included 325 Chinese students) were randomly assigned to experimental or control status. A follow-up survey, conducted six months after randomization, assessed knowledge about hepatitis B. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the data. Results: Follow-up surveys were completed by 298 (92%) of the students. At follow-up, experimental group students were significantly (p<0.05) more likely than control group students to know that immigrants have higher hepatitis B infection rates than people who were born in Canada; hepatitis B can be spread during childbirth, during sexual intercourse and by sharing razors; hepatitis B is not spread by sharing eating utensils; and hepatitis B infection can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that ESL curricula can have a positive impact on health knowledge among Chinese immigrants with limited English. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of ESL curricula for other immigrant groups, as well as other health topics. © Canadian Public Health Association, 2009. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Chinese Health education Hepatitis B

Index Keywords

education curriculum China controlled clinical trial clinical trial human controlled study randomized controlled trial language ethnology United States Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article program evaluation adult migration health care quality hepatitis B attitude to health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77950148089&partnerID=40&md5=b8fdc21038181d836f29efb485e4ba3f
ISSN: 00084263
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English