title: Hepatitis B prevention and care for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders at community health centers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A needs assessment was conducted of hepatitis B education, screening, vaccination, and care within community health centers (CHCs) serving Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Written surveys were administered to health education directors from 13 CHCs and 75 medical providers from 14 CHCs in the U.S. and affiliated Pacific Islands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although hepatitis B is within the mission of CHCs and clients are screened regardless of insurance status, little financial or staffing resources are dedicated to hepatitis B services. Lack of funding is considered the greatest barrier. Better coordination between HBV prevention and primary and specialty medical services is needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBV cross-training for providers and allied staff, particularly around identification and screening of high risk groups and case management, would greatly enhance services along with additional funding. Findings support national hepatitis B strategy recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine and Office of Minority Health.
authors.affiliation: Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 620, Oakland, CA 94612, USA. jeffc@aapcho.org
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Rosy Chang
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agbayani
authors.forename: Natalie Ah
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Soon
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001213:Asian; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors