Hepatitis B testing and diagnosis experiences of patients and primary care professionals in Australia

Jacqueline Richmond; Elizabeth Smith; Jack Wallace; Duane Duncan; Jayne Lucke

Hepatitis B testing and diagnosis experiences of patients and primary care professionals in Australia

Jacqueline Richmond
, Elizabeth Smith
, Jack Wallace
, Duane Duncan
, Jayne Lucke

Sociology & Criminology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and objective

A significant proportion of Australians with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains undiagnosed and unaware of their risk of liver disease and cancer. This study explored the hepatitis B testing and diagnostic experiences of people with CHB, general practitioners (GPs) and primary care nurses.

Method

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who have CHB (n = 19), GPs (n = 14) and nurses (n = 5).

Results

The majority of patient participants with CHB were not provided with information prior to being tested, and were shocked to receive a diagnosis. Neither GPs nor nurses noted Australia's National hepatitis B testing policy as guiding their practice, and hepatitis B contact tracing was poorly executed.

Discussion

Patient participants' diagnostic experiences did not correspond with national policy recommendations. GPs and nurses need resources to provide accurate information when testing and diagnosing hepatitis B, and clear guidance about their role in contact tracing

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	513-519
Journal	Australian Family Physician
Volume	46
Issue number	7
Publication status	Published - Jul 2017

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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title = "Hepatitis B testing and diagnosis experiences of patients and primary care professionals in Australia",

abstract = "Background and objective A significant proportion of Australians with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains undiagnosed and unaware of their risk of liver disease and cancer. This study explored the hepatitis B testing and diagnostic experiences of people with CHB, general practitioners (GPs) and primary care nurses. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who have CHB (n = 19), GPs (n = 14) and nurses (n = 5). Results The majority of patient participants with CHB were not provided with information prior to being tested, and were shocked to receive a diagnosis. Neither GPs nor nurses noted Australia's National hepatitis B testing policy as guiding their practice, and hepatitis B contact tracing was poorly executed. Discussion Patient participants' diagnostic experiences did not correspond with national policy recommendations. GPs and nurses need resources to provide accurate information when testing and diagnosing hepatitis B, and clear guidance about their role in contact tracing",

author = "Jacqueline Richmond and Elizabeth Smith and Jack Wallace and Duane Duncan and Jayne Lucke",

year = "2017",

month = jul,

language = "English",

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pages = "513--519",

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publisher = "Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)",

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AU - Richmond, Jacqueline

AU - Smith, Elizabeth

AU - Wallace, Jack

AU - Duncan, Duane

AU - Lucke, Jayne

PY - 2017/7

Y1 - 2017/7

N2 - Background and objective A significant proportion of Australians with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains undiagnosed and unaware of their risk of liver disease and cancer. This study explored the hepatitis B testing and diagnostic experiences of people with CHB, general practitioners (GPs) and primary care nurses. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who have CHB (n = 19), GPs (n = 14) and nurses (n = 5). Results The majority of patient participants with CHB were not provided with information prior to being tested, and were shocked to receive a diagnosis. Neither GPs nor nurses noted Australia's National hepatitis B testing policy as guiding their practice, and hepatitis B contact tracing was poorly executed. Discussion Patient participants' diagnostic experiences did not correspond with national policy recommendations. GPs and nurses need resources to provide accurate information when testing and diagnosing hepatitis B, and clear guidance about their role in contact tracing

AB - Background and objective A significant proportion of Australians with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains undiagnosed and unaware of their risk of liver disease and cancer. This study explored the hepatitis B testing and diagnostic experiences of people with CHB, general practitioners (GPs) and primary care nurses. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who have CHB (n = 19), GPs (n = 14) and nurses (n = 5). Results The majority of patient participants with CHB were not provided with information prior to being tested, and were shocked to receive a diagnosis. Neither GPs nor nurses noted Australia's National hepatitis B testing policy as guiding their practice, and hepatitis B contact tracing was poorly executed. Discussion Patient participants' diagnostic experiences did not correspond with national policy recommendations. GPs and nurses need resources to provide accurate information when testing and diagnosing hepatitis B, and clear guidance about their role in contact tracing

UR - https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/july/hepatitis-b-testing-and-diagnosis-experiences-2

M3 - Article

C2 - 28697296

SN - 0300-8495

VL - 46

SP - 513

EP - 519

JO - Australian Family Physician

JF - Australian Family Physician

IS - 7

ER -

Hepatitis B testing and diagnosis experiences of patients and primary care professionals in Australia

Abstract

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