Hepatitis B patient and clinical practice survey

Series: Monograph series (La Trobe University. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society) ; no. 96

It is estimated that 218,000 people in Australia live with chronic hepatitis B, with a significant increasing trend over the past decade. Chronic hepatitis B is a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) in Australia, one of the few cancers resulting in an increased mortality over the past ten years. The risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma can be reduced by effective clinical management initiated in the early stages of the disease. Barriers to clinical management include a low rate of diagnosis, poor access to services, poor compliance, fear of receiving bad news and perceived stigma. One explanation for these barriers could include levels of knowledge about the infection, although only limited data is available evaluating this among people with hepatitis B living in Australia. Data on psychosocial health of Australians with hepatitis B is scarce although there is evidence from other countries of poorer psychosocial health and increased prevalence of anxiety and depression among people with chronic hepatitis B.

La Trobe University. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society