Evaluation of a hepatitis B lay health worker intervention for Cambodian Americans - PubMed (original) (raw)

Randomized Controlled Trial

Evaluation of a hepatitis B lay health worker intervention for Cambodian Americans

Victoria M Taylor et al. J Community Health. 2013 Jun.

Abstract

Cambodian Americans have high rates of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, only about one-half of Cambodian Americans have been serologically tested for HBV. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a lay health worker (LHW) intervention on HBV testing and knowledge levels among Cambodian Americans. The study group included 250 individuals who participated in a community based survey in metropolitan Seattle and had not been tested for HBV. Experimental group participants received a LHW intervention addressing HBV and control group participants received a LHW intervention addressing physical activity. Trial participants completed a follow-up survey 6 months after randomization. Over four-fifths (82 %) of randomized individuals participated in a LHW home visit and the follow-up survey response rate was 80 %. Among participants with follow-up data, 22 % of the experimental group and 3 % of the control group reported HBV testing (p < 0.001). The experimental and control group testing difference remained significant in an intent-to-treat analysis. The experimental group was significantly more likely than the control group to know that Cambodians have higher rates of HBV infection than whites, HBV cannot be spread by eating food prepared by an infected person, HBV cannot be spread by sharing chopsticks, and HBV cannot be spread by shaking hands. Our findings indicate LHW interventions are acceptable to Cambodian Americans and can positively impact both HBV testing and knowledge levels.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1

TRIAL OVERVIEW

References

    1. Nguyen TT, Taylor V, Chen MS, Bastani R, Maxwell A, McPhee SJ. Hepatitis B awareness, knowledge, and screening among Asian Americans. J Cancer Educ. 2007;22(40):266–272. -PubMed
    1. Nguyen TT, Taylor V, Maxwell A, Chen M, Bastani R, Stewart S. Hepatitis and Asian Americans. In: Yoo G, Le MN, Oda A, editors. Handbook of Asian American Health. Springer Publishing Company; New York: 2012.
    1. Lok A, McMahon B. Chronic hepatitis B. Hepatol. 2007;45(2):507–539. -PubMed
    1. Caruana SR, Kelly HA, Silva SL, et al. Knowledge about hepatitis and previous exposure to hepatitis B viruses in immigrants and refugees from the Mekong region. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2005;29(1):64–68. -PubMed
    1. Centers for Disease Control Screening for hepatitis B virus infection among refugees arriving in the United States. MMWR. 1991;40(45):784–786. -PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources