title: Hepatitis B Awareness and Knowledge in Asian Communities in British Columbia.
abstract: Background. Our study examined hepatitis B virus (HBV) awareness and knowledge in Asian communities in British Columbia (BC). Methods. A statistical random sample representation of Chinese, Korean, Filipino, South Asian, and Southeast Asian populations in Greater Vancouver was surveyed by telephone. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of HBV knowledge. Results. General awareness of HBV was reported in 78.8% (798/1013). HBV awareness was the highest in Chinese (89%) and Filipino (88%) populations and the lowest in the South Asian (56%) population. "Reasonable" knowledge of HBV was elicited in 76.8% (778/1013). Higher HBV knowledge was associated with younger age (p = 0.014), higher education (p < 0.0001), Chinese ethnicity (p < 0.0001), and use of media (p = 0.01) and Internet (p = 0.024) for health information. Compared to the Chinese (OR = 1.0) population, "reasonable" knowledge of HBV was lower in Korean (OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-0.5), Filipino (OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2-0.6), South Asian (OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2-0.4), and Southeast Asian (OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-0.6) populations. 54.8% (555/1013) felt that HBV education was inadequate and 80.1% (811/1013) preferred HBV education in their native languages. Conclusion. Compared to the Chinese population, other Asian communities in BC have lower HBV awareness and knowledge. Public education should target older and less educated and Korean, Filipino, South Asian, and Southeast Asian populations in their native languages via media and Internet.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, GLDHCC, 2775 Laurel Street, 5th Floor, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1M9.
authors.forename: Alan Hoi Lun
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, GLDHCC, 2775 Laurel Street, 5th Floor, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1M9.
authors.forename: Jo-Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, GLDHCC, 2775 Laurel Street, 5th Floor, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1M9.
authors.forename: Peter Wing Cheung
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.affiliation: S.U.C.C.E.S.S., 555 Carrall Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 2J8.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: S.U.C.C.E.S.S., 555 Carrall Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 2J8.
authors.forename: Queenie
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: Cancer Control Research Program, BC Cancer Agency, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1L3; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z9.
authors.forename: Tim K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0157-2081
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: S.U.C.C.E.S.S., 555 Carrall Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 2J8.
authors.forename: Willie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.affiliation: S.U.C.C.E.S.S., 555 Carrall Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 2J8.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, GLDHCC, 2775 Laurel Street, 5th Floor, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1M9.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D001955:British Columbia; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult