Wissensstand, Präventionsverhalten und Therapie- adhärenz von Patienten mit chronischer Hepatitis B in einem großen tertiären Zentrum in Deutschland Knowledge about HBV, Prevention Behaviour and Treatment Adherence of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B in a Large Referral Centre in Germany

Background: The incidence of chronic hepatitis B in Germany is approximately 0.5%. Data regard- ing knowledge about HBV, prevention behaviour and treatment adherence in patients with chronic HBV are scarce. Methods: In this prospective study 201 consecu- tive patients with CHB infection were studied from a large urban academic outpatient clinic at the University Medical Centre in Hamburg. Pa- tients were interviewed with a questionnaire that contained 47 questions covering social de- mographic dates, knowledge about HBV, treat- ment adherence and prevention. The success rate of interviews was 100% with free translation ser- vice offered. Results: 20.4% of the CHB patients were born in Germany, but the majority of the patients were im- migrants (80.6%). 51% of the patients had a good, 34% a moderate and 15% a poor knowledge about HBV. 89% of the patients knew that HBV can be transmitted through blood contacts, but 34% be- lieved that inadequate hygienic conditions and 24% that food products may transmit the virus. 96% of the patients had knowledge about the exis- tence of an HBV vaccine. Furthermore, 82% consid- ered a vaccination of all persons in the household important. Despite the knowledge of the existence and importance of a vaccine, only 61,7% of the 300 affected children/siblings of HBV-positive family members were vaccinated. However, the child vac- cination rate was significantly higher among pa- tients with knowledge about the protective effect of the vaccine (p<0.001), the free of charge vacci- nation program for children up to 18 years (p<0.001) and higher school education (p<0.001). Migrants with poor German language skills had lower knowledge scores (p<0.001) and showed lower vaccination rates (p=0.016) compared to immigrants with good German language skills. 43% of all patients were treated with nucleot(s)ide