Effect of a media intervention on hepatitis B screening among Vietnamese Americans

Objective: There is a lack of controlled studies of community-wide interventions to increase screening for hepatitis B (HBV) among Asian Americans, particularly Vietnamese Americans, who disproportionately suffer from HBV-related illnesses. The objective of our study was to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of a media campaign to promote HBV screening among Vietnamese Americans. Design: We designed and implemented a three-year media campaign promoting HBV screening among Vietnamese Americans. Evaluation consisted of cross-sectional pre- and post-intervention population-based telephone surveys of Vietnamese Americans adults age 18?64 who spoke English or Vietnamese and lived in the Northern California (intervention) or Greater Washington, D.C. (comparison) communities in 2007 or 2011. Statistical analysis was completed in 2012. The main outcome was self-report of HBV testing, defined as participants answering ?Yes? to the question: ?Have you ever had a blood test to check for hepatitis B?? Results: The sample sizes at pre- and post-intervention were 1,704 and 1,666, respectively. Both communities reported increased exposure to HBV-related booklets, radio and television advertisements, and websites. Only the intervention community reported increased exposure to newspaper elements. HBV screening increased in both communities (intervention: 65.3% to 73.1%, p?

Automated summary

This study examines the effectiveness of a media campaign aimed at promoting hepatitis B screening among Vietnamese Americans. Through a three-year media campaign, there was an increase in hepatitis B screening among Vietnamese Americans. The exposure to newspaper elements increased in the intervention community, which was associated with an increase in hepatitis B screening rates.