Hae-Ok Lee1, Ok-Ja Lee2, Susie Kim3, Ivy Hontz4, Amy Warner5. 1. Associate Professor, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, Denver, Colorado, USA. 2. Associate Professor, Director of Nursing, Department of Nursing Science, Konyang University Medical School, Seoul, Korea. 3. Professor/President, Seoul Cyber University, Seoul, Korea. 4. Program Manager, Asian Pacific Development Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA. 5. Manager of Infection Department, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: 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). CONCLUSION: 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.
PURPOSE: 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). CONCLUSION: 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: John A Owiti; Trisha Greenhalgh; Lorna Sweeney; Graham R Foster; Kamaldeep S Bhui Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-02-15 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Min-Jin Kim; Haeok Lee; Peter Kiang; Paul Watanabe; Maria I Torres; Patricia Halon; Ling Shi; Daniel R Church Journal: Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs Date: 2015 Jan-Mar
Authors: Alan Hoi Lun Yau; Jo-Ann Ford; Peter Wing Cheung Kwan; Jessica Chan; Queenie Choo; Tim K Lee; Willie Kwong; Alan Huang; Eric Yoshida Journal: Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2016-03-29