title: [Knowledge and management of hepatitis B virus infected patients in Germany].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis B is a significant health burden in Germany. The aim of this study was (I) to gain more information on knowledge of hepatitis B patients and patient management considering epidemiologic and socio-economic factors, (II) to investigate the knowledge of relatives of patients with hepatitis B about liver disease, modes of infection and possibilities of prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured questionnaires were sent to 1000 patients with hepatitis B as a project of the Model Region North of the German network of excellence for viral hepatitis. The patients were asked to forward additional questionnaires to their relatives and household members.
  
  
  RESULTS
  312 (31 %) questionnaires were sent back and evaluated. The majority of responding patients had an immigration background (75 %). The knowledge of hepatitis B patients about their disease status was very heterogeneous. While most of them were aware of their ALT-values, only some patients knew their HBV viral loads. Patients with a low socio-economic status consulted physicians more often but did not receive medical examinations more frequently. The knowledge of relatives (384 relatives from families of 216 patients) about the mode of transmission and the possibilities of prevention were also heterogeneous. Only 84 % of the partners and children were vaccinated against hepatitis B and only 75 % of relatives knew that condoms protect against HBV infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not only patients with hepatitis B but also relatives and household members should be informed about consequences of liver disease and HBV infection. The poor vaccination coverage even of sexual partners of HBV-infected individuals requires attention and should lead to a better education.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deterding
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heidelberger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiebner
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meining
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: P Manns
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wedemeyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult