Table 3 Knowledge, perceived GPs role, attitudes, perceived barriers and facilitators related to hepatitis B practice among survey respondents
Items | n (%) (N = 134) |
|---|---|
Knowledge and awareness | Participants answering correctly (n, %) |
I would screen hepatitis B for the following population groups: | |
CALD communities, particularly if born overseas (true) | 106 (79) |
Gay, bisexual and other MSM (true) | 129 (96) |
People who inject drugs (true) | 133 (99) |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (true) | 117 (87) |
Close contacts of people with hepatitis B (true) | 126 (94) |
People with HIV and/or hepatitis C (true) | 132 (99) |
Sex workers (true) | 129 (96) |
Chronic hepatitis B infection is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Australia | 120 (90) |
Accurate interpretation of “HBsAg positive, anti-HBc positive, anti-HBs negative” (active hepatitis B infection (chronic or acute)) | 110 (82) |
Patients with active viral replication and active liver damage should be considered for treatment (true) | 129 (96) |
Treatment is available for hepatitis B (true) | 120 (90) |
Treatment can be initiated at any phase of hepatitis B infection (false) | 30 (23) a |
Aware that hepatitis B medications could be dispensed in the community (yes) | 51 (40) |
Attitudes and perceived GPs roles in providing CHB-related care | Participants agreeing the statement (n, %) |
It’s part of my work as a GP: | |
Screening for HBV in patients with increased risk | 127 (95) |
Monitoring chronic hepatitis B | 115 (86) |
Prescribing HBV medication for eligible patients | 39 (29) |
Screening for HCC | 105 (78) |
None of above | 2 (1) |
Intentions to become a hepatitis B prescriber (of those who are not or unsure, n = 123) | |
Yes | 29 (24) |
No | 44 (35) |
Unsure | 50 (41) |
Belief and confidence (on a scale of 0 to 10 where 10 means strongly agree/very confident/ important) | Median score, IQR b |
Agreement level of the statement “it will benefit public health if I test for HBV among my high-risk patients” | 10 (9–10) |
Agreement level of the statement “it will benefit public health if I monitor chronic hepatitis B for my patients, regardless of specialists’ input” | 8 (7–10) |
Confidence level to monitor chronic hepatitis B | 7 (5–8.5) |
Confidence level to initiate treatment for hepatitis B | 3 (2–5) |
Importance level of “screen and manage chronic hepatitis B” compared to other priorities in practice | 8 (7–10) |
Perceived barriers to providing hepatitis B testing or management | Participants agreeing the statement (n, %) |
Lack of time | 51 (38) |
Unclear guidelines | 39 (29) |
Lack of reminders | 27 (20) |
Lack of financial incentive | 13 (10) |
The difficulty of initiating the conversation | 10 (7) |
Perceived facilitators to providing hepatitis B testing or mangement | Participants agreeing the statement (n, %) |
Clear guidelines on best practice would be a facilitator | 96 (72) |
Continuing medical education would be a facilitator | 95 (71) |
Online resources would be a facilitator | 54 (40) |
An education resource on plain language for my patients would be a facilitator | 50 (37) |
Medicare rebate would be a facilitator | 44 (33) |
Encouragement from colleagues would be a facilitator | 24 (18) |