title: Differences in knowledge of hepatitis B among korean immigrants in two cities in the rocky mountain region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess knowledge and attitude toward hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among Korean immigrants in two cities in the Rocky Mountain region and to determine whether sociodemographic and cultural factors are related to the level of HBV knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based participatory study was conducted in five Korean churches in the Rocky Mountain region to develop baseline data on HBV infection and vaccination behavior. All documents, including announcements, brochures, consent forms, and questionnaires were in Korean and English, and trained Korean interviewers collected the surveys by reviewing the questionnaires with participants at the churches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge of HBV infection was low and city of residence did not have a statistically significant impact on HBV infection knowledge. In the total sample, 62% identified transmission by sharing utensils and 21% believed that HBV was hereditary, while only 21% thought that HBV was spread through sexual contact. The majority of participants (61%) rated their English level as "minimum". Knowledge of HBV infection was found to be associated with both demographic and acculturation factors (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found not only a low level of knowledge of HBV infection but also misunderstanding of the risks of HBV infection. Knowledge of HBV infection was significantly associated with education and acculturation; therefore, culturally sensitive and group-tailored public health education for Korean and other Asian American Pacific Islanders should be developed to clarify misconceptions and misunderstandings about HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Hae-Ok
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Director of Nursing, Department of Nursing Science, Konyang University Medical School, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ok-Ja
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Professor/President, Seoul Cyber University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Susie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Program Manager, Asian Pacific Development Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Ivy
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hontz
authors.affiliation: Manager of Infection Department, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warner