Increasing Hepatitis B Screening Among Korean Church Attendees

Increasing Hepatitis B Screening Among Korean Church Attendees (Component Project) Program Project Title: Liver Cancer Control Interventions for Asian Americans

The purpose of this study is to design an intervention to increase hepatitis B (HBV) screening among Korean Americans. The investigators will design a culturally specific intervention (educational sessions) and test the effect of the intervention on 1200 Korean Americans. All subjects will be interviewed before the intervention/control sessions and 6 months after the sessions to assess HBV screening levels in the two groups. Self-reported HBV screening will be verified by a review of subjects' medical records. The primary study hypothesis is that the intervention group will have a higher rate of HBV serologic testing at follow-up compared to the control group.

The purpose of this study is to design an intervention to increase hepatitis B (HBV) screening among Korean Americans. The investigators will design a culturally specific intervention; an educational small group discussion led by a trained Korean leader. The effect of the intervention will be tested on 1200 Korean Americans. Subjects will be recruited at Korean churches and invited to join a one-hour discussion of health issues with other members of their church. One half of the subjects will participate in the intervention group. These subjects will discuss HBV and will receive resources related to HBV and where to obtain screening. The other half of the subjects will participate in the control group. These subjects will discuss nutrition and physical activity and will receive resources related to these topics, but not related to HBV and where to obtain screening. All subjects will be interviewed before the sessions and 6 months after the sessions to assess HBV screening levels in the two groups. Self-reported HBV screening will be verified by a review of subjects' medical records. The primary study hypothesis is that the intervention group will have a higher rate of HBV serologic testing at follow-up compared to the control group. Secondary hypotheses are: The intervention group will have a higher level of knowledge of hepatitis B and liver cancer at follow-up compared to the control group. The effect of the intervention on hepatitis B serologic testing will be mediated by knowledge of hepatitis B and liver cancer.

Inclusion Criteria: Korean ancestry Have not previously received HBV screening or do not know the results of previous HBV screening test No history of liver cancer or liver disease Current resident of the Los Angeles area Exclusion Criteria: Younger than 18 years of age or Older than 64 years of age Not of Korean ancestry Previously screened for HBV History of liver disease or liver cancer Not a current resident of the Los Angeles area

Bastani R, Glenn BA, Maxwell AE, Jo AM, Herrmann AK, Crespi CM, Wong WK, Chang LC, Stewart SL, Nguyen TT, Chen MS Jr, Taylor VM. Cluster-Randomized Trial to Increase Hepatitis B Testing among Koreans in Los Angeles. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2015 Sep;24(9):1341-9. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-1396. Epub 2015 Jun 23.