Formal patient education improves patient knowledge of hepatitis C in vulnerable populations.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C (HCV) knowledge is limited in injection drug users (IDU). Vulnerable populations including IDUs are disproportionally affected by HCV. Effective HCV education can potentially reduce disparity in HCV prevalence and its outcome in this population.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess the impact of formal HCV education and factors associated with improved HCV knowledge in the vulnerable population.


METHODS
Over 18 months, 201 HCV-infected patients underwent a 2-h standardized education and completed demographic and pre- and post-education questionnaires.


RESULTS
Patient characteristics were: 69% male, mean age 49±10, 49% White (26% AA, 10% Latino), 75% unemployed, 83% high school education and above, 64% were IDU, and 7% were HIV co-infected. On multivariate analysis, baseline knowledge scores were higher in patients with at least a high school education (coef 7.1, p=0.045). Baseline knowledge scores were lower in African Americans (coef -12.3, p=0.004) and older patients (coef -0.7, p=0.03). Following HCV education, the overall test scores improved significantly by 14% (p=0.0001) specifically in the areas of HCV transmission (p=0.003), general knowledge (p=0.02), and health care maintenance (p=0.004). There was a high compliance with liver specialty clinic attendance following education.


CONCLUSIONS
Formal HCV education is effective in improving HCV knowledge. Although White race, younger age, and higher education were predictors of having more HCV knowledge prior to education, all patients independent of racial background had a significant improvement in their knowledge after education. Therefore, promoting effective HCV education among vulnerable populations may be an important factor in reducing the disparities in HCV disease.
Surjadi
Miranda
M
Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Ave, NH-3D, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.
Torruellas
Cara
C
Ayala
Claudia
C
Yee
Hal F
HF
Khalili
Mandana
M
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology