Primary liver cancer occurs more frequently among Southeast Asians in the United States (US) than among individuals of any other race/ethnicity. This health disparity can be attributed to high rates of hepatitis B virus infection combined with low levels of hepatitis B vaccination coverage. Over 10 percent of Cambodian immigrants are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus, compared to less than 0.5 percent of the general US population. Practice guidelines specify that all immigrants from areas of the world with endemic hepatitis B should receive serologic testing. However, available data indicate that less than one-half of Cambodian Americans have received testing for hepatitis B. Our study objective is to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally and linguistically appropriate lay health worker outreach intervention in improving levels of hepatitis B testing completion among Cambodians. This community-based participatory research project will be conducted in the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area of Western Washington and the researchers will collaborate with an existing Cambodian Community Coalition. Our research will use the theoretical perspective of the Health Behavior Framework. Focus group findings will be used to develop a hepatitis B survey instrument and our hepatitis B outreach intervention. The outreach will be delivered by lay health workers and will include the following components: A home visit, use of an educational pamphlet and a motivational DVD, and tailored counseling and logistic assistance. We will conduct a community-based survey of 500 Cambodians aged 20-64 years. Survey respondents who have never been tested for hepatitis B (250 individuals) will be randomized to intervention or control status. The primary randomized controlled trial outcome will be hepatitis B serologic testing. Secondary outcomes will include future hepatitis B testing intentions and hepatitis B-related knowledge. Outcome evaluation will be based on a follow-up survey, as well as medical record verification of self-reported hepatitis B testing.

Public Health Relevance

This project will collaborate with the Cambodian community to develop and evaluate a culturally and linguistically appropriate hepatitis B outreach intervention for Cambodian adults. The outreach will be delivered by lay health workers and will include the following components: A home visit, use of an educational pamphlet and a motivational DVD, and tailored counseling and logistic assistance.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA134245-04
Application #
8110050
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-K (50))
Program Officer
Kobrin, Sarah
Project Start
2008-09-22
Project End
2013-07-31
Budget Start
2011-09-08
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$13,756
Indirect Cost
Name
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
078200995
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98109
Maxwell, Annette E; Bastani, Roshan; Glenn, Beth A et al. (2014) Developing theoretically based and culturally appropriate interventions to promote hepatitis B testing in 4 Asian American populations, 2006-2011. Prev Chronic Dis 11:E72
Taylor, Victoria Mary; Burke, Nancy Jean; Sos, Channdara et al. (2013) Community health worker hepatitis B education for Cambodian American men and women. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 14:4705-9
Taylor, Victoria M; Bastani, Roshan; Burke, Nancy et al. (2013) Evaluation of a hepatitis B lay health worker intervention for Cambodian Americans. J Community Health 38:546-53
Taylor, Victoria M; Burke, Nancy; Do, Hoai et al. (2012) HPV vaccination uptake among Cambodian mothers. J Cancer Educ 27:145-8
Taylor, Victoria M; Bastani, Roshan; Burke, Nancy et al. (2012) Factors associated with hepatitis B testing among Cambodian American men and women. J Immigr Minor Health 14:30-8
Meischke, Hendrika; Taylor, Victoria; Calhoun, Rebecca et al. (2012) Preparedness for cardiac emergencies among Cambodians with limited English proficiency. J Community Health 37:176-80
Maxwell, Annette E; Stewart, Susan L; Glenn, Beth A et al. (2012) Theoretically informed correlates of hepatitis B knowledge among four Asian groups: the health behavior framework. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 13:1687-92
Taylor, Victoria M; Talbot, Jocelyn; Do, H Hoai et al. (2011) Hepatitis B knowledge and practices among Cambodian Americans. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 12:957-61