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Learning Objective:
By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
1. Identify opportunities for integrating hepatitis B programs into existing services
2. Integrate a hepatitis B workshop into existing social services, using this program as a model
Background:
Hepatitis B affects over 12 million Americans, with over 1.25 million chronic infections. Chronic infection can lead to liver failure, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Primary prevention efforts have focused mainly on infants and children. However, more education and vaccination efforts geared towards high-risk adults are needed. This presentation describes the successful integration of hepatitis B education into an existing welfare-to-work program. With this integration project, we are fulfilling a previous “missed opportunity” to educate adults, especially women, who are already utilizing social services.
Setting:
Informal, interactive presentations given at various welfare-to-work settings
Population e.g. API Youth, MSM, IDU:
Homeless, unemployed, and welfare recipients enrolled in a welfare-to-work program in Bucks County, PA.
Project Description:
Information was given in a 1 hour interactive workshop session. Participants were 80% female and between the ages of 20-40. Workshop topics included hepatitis B statistics, transmission, prevention, acute vs. chronic infection, and offered resources for testing, information and counseling. Pre-post tests assessed their increase in hepatitis B knowledge. Feedback surveys assessed their satisfaction with the program.
Results/Lessons Learned:
85% of participants felt that the workshop was useful, and will help to improve their lives; 75% felt that it met or exceeded expectations, and 70% indicated that information provided was sufficient to improve their knowledge of hepatitis B. All respondents showed a knowledge increase, and the majority would consider being vaccinated and/or screened as a result of this workshop. This pilot program offers a successful way of integrating hepatitis B information into existing social service programs, and “capturing” potentially high-risk adults for hepatitis B education. Including screening and vaccination services would be beneficial for future programs.
Web Page: www.hepb.org
See more of Poster Session #1
See more of The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference