— Christine M. Kukka, Project Manager, HBV Advocate
Another study that asked 400 Wisconsin primary care providers whom
they screened for hepatitis B found few of them followed medical
guidelines and screened and vaccinated high-risk patients.
The doctors reported poor screening of patients
at risk of sexual transmission of hepatitis B, with 61% stating that
they screened patients who had more than one sex partner in six months
and 86% reporting they screened patients with a history of sex with
prostitutes. Screening rate for persons with a history of intravenous
drug use was 94%.
Only 65% of doctors reported screening children
of immigrants for hepatitis B, only 73% reported screening patients on
hemodialysis and only 69% screened prison inmates.
Screening increased when providers had experience
and training about hepatitis B. Vaccination rates were similarly
substandard. Doctors reported they failed to screen and vaccinate
patients because of:
- Cost to patients
- They thought someone else had screened and vaccinated the patient
- Time constraints
- Lack of knowledge
"Without improved education and practices of primary care providers
about HBV screening and vaccination, the goals of Healthy People 2020
regarding HBV will not be met," researchers noted in the March issue of
the journal of Hepatitis Research and Treatment.
"Barriers to screening and vaccination need to be addressed," they
added. "Cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies such as universal
vaccination under the age of 50 should be explored."
Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3963216/
HBV Journal Review
May 1, 2014, Vol 11, no 5
http://www.hbvadvocate.org/news/HBJ11.5.htmLabels: medical guidelines, physician awareness, screening
