Hepatitis B and liver cancer beliefs among Korean immigrants in Western Washington.
Hepatocellular cancer occurs more frequently among Koreans, Vietnamese, and Chinese than other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. This excess risk can be attributed to high rates of chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection and low rates of HBV vaccination among Asian immigrants. However, there is little available information regarding the hepatitis B knowledge, beliefs, and practices among Koreans, the fifth-largest Asian population in the U.S. This brief report summarizes results from 30 qualitative interviews and two focus groups investigating hepatitis and liver cancer prevention, behavior, and beliefs among first-generation Korean immigrant adults ages 18-64 years residing in the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area of Washington State. The report concludes with suggestions for future investigations to address the high rates of chronic HBV infection and hepatocellular cancer in this vulnerable population.
Choe
John H
JH
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. johnchoe@u.washington.edu
Chan
Nadine
N
Do
H Hoai
HH
Woodall
Erica
E
Lim
Eunyoung
E
Taylor
Victoria M
VM
D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology*; D003469:Culture; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014861:Washington