HEPATITIS B (HBV) AWARENESS

SURVEY IN ASIAN COMMUNITIES (2012)

Preliminary Release of Survey Findings

May 30, 2012

Division of Gastroenterology – VGH The Gordon and Leslie Diamond Centre

Target Ethnic Populations in Greater Vancouver

Regional District (2006 Census)

Target Ethnic

Populations in GVRD

(2006 Census) Total Population % Sample N=1000

Chinese (Mandarin and

Cantonese) 402,000 52.30% 523

South Asians 208,535 27.10% 271

Filipinos 83,760 10.90% 109

Korean 46,040 6.00% 60

Other SE Asians 28,705 3.70% 37

Total 769,040 100% 1,000

A proportionate random sample representing the GVRD ethnic populations of

Chinese, South Asian, Filipino, Korean and other SE Asian (including

Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, etc.) decent at a confidence

level of +/- 2.2% of the total sample estimates 19 times out of 20.

Aware of a disease called HBV?

Percentage

(%)

Total

(N=1,000)

Chinese

(n=523)

South

Asians

(n=271)

Filipino

(n=109)

Korean

(n=60)

Other SE

Asians

(n=37)

Yes 79 88 56 88 77 82

No 19 10 40 9 16 13

Uncertain 3 2 4 3 7 5

General awareness of the disease HBV was relatively high

(79%), with Chinese and Filipino populations reporting the

highest awareness at 88%. Awareness was lowest among

South Asians at 40%. Koreans are the second least aware

group.

Awareness that HBV is a cause of liver cancer …

… a cause of cirrhosis? Percentage

(%)

Total

(N=1,000)

Chinese

(n=523)

South Asians

(n=271)

Filipino

(n=109)

Korean

(n=60)

Other SE

Asians (n=37)

HBV is a cause of liver cancer

TRUE 62 75 48 45 51 51

FALSE 12 9 10 19 32 29

Don't know 26 17 42 36 16 21

HBV is a cause of cirrhosis

TRUE 61 77 39 50 59 28

FALSE 7 4 5 14 26 23

Don't know 31 19 55 35 17 49

Awareness that HBV is a cause of liver cancer was lowest among Filipino (45%),

South Asians (48%) and Korean (51%) populations. Awareness that HBV is a

cause of cirrhosis was particularly low among South Asians (39%) and South

East Asians (28%).

Do you have a family doctor? Annual physical

check up including blood test by a doctor?

Percentage

(%)

Total

(N=1,000)

Chinese

(n=523)

South Asians

(n=271)

Filipino

(n=109)

Korean

(n=60)

Other SE

Asians

(n=37)

Have a family doctor

Yes 92 92 94 89 78 97

No 8 8 6 11 22 3

Annual physical check up including blood test by a doctor

Yes 69 62 83 78 47 80

No 31 38 17 22 53 20

Of those surveyed, 92% claimed to have a family doctor and 69% have an

annual physical which includes a blood test. Chinese (38%) and Korean

(53%) were the highest populations that did not report an annual physical

including blood tests.

Have you ever been tested for HBV?

Percentage

(%)

Total

(N=1,000)

Chinese

(n=523)

South Asians

(n=271)

Filipino

(n=109)

Korean

(n=60)

Other SE

Asians

(n=37)

Yes 49 60 24 62 33 54

No 45 36 67 32 62 31

Uncertain 6 4 9 6 5 15

Almost half of the respondents (49%) indicated that they have been tested

for HBV, with Filipinos (62%), Chinese (60%) and South East Asian (54%)

the most likely to have been tested. South Asians (24%) and Koreans

(33%) are least likely to have been tested for HBV.

Have you been diagnosed with having HBV? Has

anyone in your family been diagnosed of having

HBV? Percentage

(%)

Total

(N=1,000)

Chinese

(n=523)

South Asians

(n=271)

Filipino

(n=109)

Korean

(n=60)

Other SE

Asians (n=37)

Have ever been diagnosed with HBV

Yes 6 8 1 4 5 8

No 91 87 99 92 90 78

Uncertain 4 4 0.1 4 5 14

Family member has been diagnosed of having HBV

Yes 8 12 5 4 10 3

No 89 86 94 94 85 85

Uncertain 2 2 1 3 5 12

6% of those surveyed reported being diagnosed with HBV, with Chinese (8%)

and South East Asian (8%) being the highest reported ethnic groups. Next are

Koreans (5%) and Filipinos (4%).

Those who are diagnosed with HBV … Percentage

(%)

Total

(n=56)

Chinese

(n=44)

South Asians

(n=2)

Filipino

(n=4)

Korean

(n=3)

Other SE

Asians (n=3)

Are you currently treated by your doctor for HBV (if yes)?

Yes 30 26 100 27 69 0

No 70 74 0 73 31 100

Are you currently taking medication for HBV (if yes)?

Yes 10 10 0 0 33 0

No 88 90 100 75 67 100

Uncertain 2 0 0 25 0 0

Of those who are diagnosed with HBV the majority are not being treated by a

doctor for their condition (70%). 74% of the Chinese diagnosed and 73% of

the diagnosed Filipinos are not receiving treatment for HBV.

A higher majority (88%) of those who have been diagnosed with HBV are not

taking medication for the disease. This majority includes 90% of the Chinese

who have been diagnosed.

HBV is a concern of Asian community? HBV

education adequate in the community? Percentage

(%)

Total

(N=1,000)

Chinese

(n=523)

South Asians

(n=271)

Filipino

(n=109)

Korean

(n=60)

Other SE

Asians (n=37)

HBV is a concern of Asian community?

Yes 48 55 32 49 54 48

No 24 19 33 25 33 23

Uncertain 28 27 35 26 13 29

HBV education adequate in the community?

Yes 20 13 22 36 47 23

No 56 61 58 34 35 52

Uncertain 24 25 20 30 18 25

Only about half of those surveyed (48%) correctly recognized that HBV would

be an area of concern for the Asian community while 56% in the survey agreed

that HBV education about the disease is not adequate in the community; a

higher percent (61%) felt the same among the Chinese.

Hepatitis education for Asian communities more

effective in:

Percentage

(%)

Total

(N=1,000)

Chinese

(n=523)

South Asians

(n=271)

Filipino

(n=109)

Korean

(n=60)

Other SE

Asians

(n=37)

Ethnic

languages 80 85 90 40 77 66

English 5 3 4 13 10 16

No

difference 15 12 7 47 13 18

The majority of respondents (80%) felt that education about Hepatitis would

be more effective in their ethnic languages, particularly South Asians (90%)

Chinese (85%) and Koreans (77%).

Chronic diseases that have received sufficient

funding from government?

34 43 41

23 25 19

35

Percentage % (N=1,000)

Amongst the major chronic diseases like hypertension, cancer, diabetes,

tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and HIV/AIDS,

Hepatitis B is identified by the ethnic communities to receive the least

(19%) sufficient funding support from the government.

Conclusion in three words …

Magnitude + Seriousness = Great Needs

60,000+ HBV

patients

Liver cancer

Cirrhosis

HBV health

education

8% identified

HBV family

members

70% HBV

patients not

treated by doctor

Early diagnosis &

medical

intervention

Unknown # of

undiagnosed

88% HBV

patients not taking

medication

Chronic disease

management

This is the MSG of HBV