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Intervention may increase HBV serologic testing

Researchers in Los Angeles found that Korean adults who participated in an intervention program were more likely to get tested for hepatitis B virus infection, according to published findings.

“The Los Angeles area is home to the largest Korean population outside of Korea,” according to a press release. “Over three-quarters of adults in this group are Korean-born, placing them at an increased risk of HBV and liver cancer.”

Researchers, including Roshan Bastani, PhD, of the UCLA School of Public Health, recruited Korean adults from 52 Korean churches in Los Angeles to implement an intervention program and evaluate what impact this had on HBV testing among Koreans in this area. The mean age of the participants was 46 years, 65% were female, 97% were born in Korea, 69% completed some college and 43% were insured.  

Roshan Bastani

The goal of the trial was to “improve HBV testing among Koreans in Los Angeles,” the researchers wrote.

Of the churches, 1,123 adults were randomized to intervention or control conditions. The participants in the intervention condition group attended a single-session small group discussion on hepatocellular carcinoma and HBV testing, whereas the control condition group attended a similar session based on physical activity and nutrition.

Overall, 92% of Korean adults attended the assigned intervention session and 86% completed a 6-month follow-up phone call.

An intent-to-treat analysis showed that the intervention produced a positive, significant effect (OR = 4.9, P < .001), with 19% of participants in the intervention group and 6% of participants in the control group reporting that they underwent HBV testing.

The researchers found that the participants in the intervention churches successfully increased HBV testing compared with participants in the control churches, according to the release. This demonstrated that an intervention program can be successfully executed in a community setting and more individuals would be willing to undergo testing for HBV.

The researchers concluded: “Our intervention was successful in achieving a large and robust effect in a population at high risk of HBV infection and sequelae.” – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosures: Healio.com/Hepatology was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.