title: Misperceptions among patients with chronic hepatitis B in Singapore.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the misperceptions among CHB patients, as well as to determine the factors associated with better knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  A telephone interview was conducted on 192 adult CHB patients, who earlier responded to an advertisement for free screening. The questionnaire included items about socio-demographic factors and a 14-item quiz on knowledge of general aspects, transmission, and management of HBV infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean knowledge score on HBV was 10.4/14. Common misperceptions included availability of treatment for HBV infection and early liver cancer, as well as on transmission. Having completed tertiary education was the only independent factor associated with a high knowledge score, after controlling other demographic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More educational efforts should be focused on patients' misperceptions and target the less educated HBV carriers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore. waict@nuh.com.sg
authors.forename: Chun-Tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wai
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Winnie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Mei-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Seline
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheok
authors.forename: Mee-Lian
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Seng-Gee
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011634:Public Health; D012846:Singapore; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires