Journal of Community Health
Volume 34, Issue 3, 2009, Pages 165-172

Evaluation of a hepatitis B lay health worker intervention for Chinese Americans and Canadians (Article)

Taylor V.M. , Hislop T.G. , Tu S.-P. , Teh C. , Acorda E. , Yip M.-P. , Woodall E. , Yasui Y.
  • a Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, United States
  • b Cancer Control Research Program, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
  • c Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 401 Broadway Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
  • d Cancer Control Research Program, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
  • e Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, United States
  • f Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 401 Broadway Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
  • g Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, United States
  • h Department of Public Health Sciences, Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G3, Canada

Abstract

Hepatitis B testing is recommended for immigrants from countries where hepatitis B infection is endemic. However, only about one-half of Chinese in North America have received hepatitis B testing. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a hepatitis B lay health worker intervention for Chinese Americans/Canadians. Four hundred and sixty individuals who had never been tested for hepatitis B were identified from community-based surveys of Chinese conducted in Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. These individuals were randomly assigned to receive a hepatitis B lay health worker intervention or a direct mailing of physical activity educational materials. Follow-up surveys were completed 6 months after randomization. Self-reported hepatitis B testing was verified through medical records review. A total of 319 individuals responded to the follow-up survey (69% response rate). Medical records data verified hepatitis B testing since randomization for 9 (6%) of the 142 experimental group participants and 3 (2%) of the 177 control group participants (P = 0.04). At follow-up, a higher proportion of individuals in the experimental arm than individuals in the control arm knew that hepatitis B can be spread by razors (P < 0.001) and during sexual intercourse (P = 0.07). Our findings suggest that lay health worker interventions can impact hepatitis B-related knowledge. However, our hepatitis B lay health worker intervention had a very limited impact on hepatitis B testing completion. Future research should evaluate other intervention approaches to improving hepatitis B testing rates among Chinese in North America. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

Chinese Americans/Canadians Hepatitis B Lay health worker

Index Keywords

Health Personnel China immigrant controlled clinical trial health promotion mass screening clinical trial human Self Report middle aged health service controlled study randomized controlled trial professional practice Medical Audit Washington Professional Role Humans Asian Americans Canada male Asian American female Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article major clinical study adult health education serology virus transmission hepatitis B British Columbia health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-63449138620&doi=10.1007%2fs10900-008-9138-0&partnerID=40&md5=108f5a1fdb86352f11c07673666fa36b
DOI: 10.1007/s10900-008-9138-0
ISSN: 00945145
Cited by: 31
Original Language: English