• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.57-67
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes towards hepatitis B among paramedic students. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 395 paramedic students in Daejeon and Chungnam from May 10 to June 10, 2016. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects (9 items), knowledge of hepatitis B (20 items), and attitudes towards hepatitis B (7 items). Data were analyzed by t test, ANOVA, post hoc Duncan test, and Pearson's correlation analysis using SPSS v. 23.0. Results: The knowledge of hepatitis B was 10.52(${\pm}5.18$) out of 20 points and was significantly correlated with grade, vaccination, or antibody-positive irerspective of education. The positive attitude toward hepatitis B was 3.15(${\pm}.43$) and there was a significant correlation with family history irrespective of education. There was a statistically positive correlation between the knowledge and attitudes towards hepatitis B (r=.104, p=.039). Conclusion: Precise knowledge delivery and full understanding of hepatitis B should be incorporated into the education of paramedic students. Active infection control by emergency medical technicians should be maintained by hepatitis B prevention practices.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.61-64
• /
• 2013

Infection-induced acute hepatitis complicated with acute pancreatitis is associated with hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus or hepatitis E virus. Although rare, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection should be considered also in the differential diagnosis if the patient has acute hepatitis combined with pancreatitis. We report a case of EBV infection with cholestatic hepatitis and pancreatitis with review of literature. An 11-year-old female was admitted due to 1-day history of abdominal pain and vomiting without any clinical symptoms of infectious mononucleosis. Diagnosis of reactivated EBV infection was made by the positive result of viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM, VCA IgG, Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen and heterophile antibody test. We performed serologic tests and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to exclude other viral or bacterial infection, autoimmune disorder, and structural problems. The patient's symptoms recovered rapidly and blood chemistry returned to normal with conservative treatment similar to previously reported cases.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.403-411
• /
• 2011

Purpose: This study was designed to identify the relationship between preventive behavior and health belief about Hepatitis A among young adults. Methods: The sample consisted of 197 participants between the ages of twenty and forty. The data were collected from May 3 to May 30 2011 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ${\chi}^2$-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Preventive Behavior's Scale about Hepatitis A and Health Belief's Scale about Hepatitis A were used for data collection. Results: The mean scores of health behavior ($2.97{\pm}0.34$) and preventive behavior ($2.46{\pm}0.30$) about Hepatitis A were about average degree. The participant's characteristics with preventive behavior were significantly different according to type of residence (${\chi}^2$=4.74, p =.040), experience of obtained knowledge about Hepatitis A (${\chi}^2$=5.68 p =.018) and attitude about Hepatitis A (${\chi}^2$=15.20, p<.001). Significant correlations were found between health behavior and preventive behavior with Hepatitis A (r=.20, p =.005). The preventive behavior had a significant positive correlation with susceptibility (r=.22, p =.001), severity (r=.17, p =.015), and benefit (r=.32, p<.001) towards Hepatitis A as the details of the health belief. Conclusion: These findings indicate that health belief may be necessary to improve compliance with preventive behavior on Hepatitis A among young adults. It is necessary to develop the strategy of reinforcing health belief in complying with preventive behavior for preventing the occurrence of Hepatitis A.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.503-512
• /
• 2002

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop educational materials for preventing type B viral hepatitis infection. Prior to this study, a survey had been conducted to define the educational needs of persons with hepatitis B antigen. Method: Based on the results of the former study and a review of the literature, the content of the educational materials was confined to the transmission cycle and its prevention in type B hepatitis. A professional team that consisted of writers and producers videotaped the lectures provided by professors and instructors in a nursing school. A professional graphic designer produced the leaflet to enhance the visual effects. Results: The contents of the educational materials for type B hepatitis were composed of six parts: (1) the prevalence rate (or morbidity) of type B hepatitis antigen positive and its recent trend, (2) transformation of hepatitis. (3) transmission cycle of hepatitis infection, (4) persons who are susceptible to hepatitis and need a vaccination, (5) preventive approach hepatitis vaccination and the guideline for patients' daily lives for preventing infection and (6) questions and answers. The materials were delivered in the form of lectures, visual charts, graphics, and multi-media. Conclusion: The educational materials developed in this study may provide practical information and knowledge on strategies to prevent type B hepatitis. The educational materials may be utilized in primary health care centers or school health services.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.159-163
• /
• 2013

To investigate the cognitive degree about hepatitis and hepatosis, 916 subjects are examined with query and hepatotitis B, C, E test as well as s-AST and s-ALT as liver function test. Based on results, there are 4.9% of positive hepatitis and 8.9% of hepatosis and 13.8% of liver disorder. Among positive hepatitis, there are 93.3% of type B, 42.2% of type E and 6.7% of type C, respectively. From 45% of positive hepatitis B, they carry hepatitis B and E together. The cognitive degree about positive hepatitis is 64.4%, hepatosis 8.6%. The knowledge degree from cognitive group is higher than that of noncognitive group but there is no difference from hepatosis between two groups (p<0.001). The cognitive degree of liver disorder depends on academic background (p<0.001), mother's academic background (p<0.001), job (p<0.05) and family's income (p<0.001), showing significant difference. In summary, hepatitis carrier aware quite well about liver disorder but very low from hepatosis. Accordingly, the plan to increase a cognitive degree and continuous education as well as policy support to minimize spread of disease and to protect not to be worsen disease will be needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.1707-1713
• /
• 2013

Background: This study aimed to better understand the barriers to perinatal hepatitis B prevention and to identify the reasons for poor hepatitis B knowledge and delivery of education to hepatitis B surface-antigen-positive pregnant women among healthcare providers in Santa Clara County, California. Materials and Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 obstetricians and 17 perinatal nurses in Santa Clara County, California, which has one of the largest populations in the United States at high risk for perinatal hepatitis B transmission. Results: Most providers displayed a lack of self-efficacy attributed to insufficient hepatitis B training and education. They felt discouraged from counseling and educating their patients because of a lack of resources and discouraging patient attitudes such as stigma and apathy. Providers called for institutional changes from the government, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations to improve care for patients with chronic hepatitis B. Conclusions: Early and continuing provider training, increased public awareness, and development of comprehensive resources and new programs may contribute to reducing the barriers for health care professionals to provide counseling and education to pregnant patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.229-235
• /
• 2015

Objectives: We checked hepatitis A virus antibody(anti-HAV IgG) and hepatitis B virus antibody(HBsAb) in three large companies. The result could be a guideline to establish proper health policy for Hepatitis A and B virus preventive plan in company. Methods: We investigated the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG and HBsAb, and demographic characteristics of employee volunteer in three companies in southern area of Korea. Company was divided three according to health policy for hepatitis A and B. Results: The seroprevalence rate of anti-HAV IgG in company A, B, and C was 53.6%, 25.8%, and 17.7%(P<0.001), respectively. The seroprevalence rate of HBsAb in workplace A, B, and C was 79.7%, 82.4%, and 70.9%(P<0.001), respectively. Anti-HAV IgG showed more considerable difference among the companies. Conclusions: The results confirmed that low rate of IgG anti-HAV and HBsAb, particularly in the company that had low level of hepatitis education and vaccination program. This study was important for establishing hepatitis education policies, to prevent and control outbreaks in companies.

• Gut and Liver
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.615-622
• /
• 2018

Despite the well-proven, safe and effective therapies for hepatitis B infection, delivery of treatment remains a significant challenge in resource-poor settings. Geopolitical and economic restrictions present additional difficulties in providing care in North Korea. However, treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B remains a top priority for both the North Korean Ministry of Public Health and international agencies working in North Korean hepatitis healthcare facilities. Working in partnership, a path was created to institute this much-needed program. A consortium of United States and Australian humanitarian non-governmental organizations along with generous individual and corporate donors working in concert with local and national health authorities have succeeded in establishing the first hepatitis B treatment program in North Korea. The essential elements of this program include renovation of existing hepatitis hospitals, access to antiviral medications, establishment of laboratory facilities, creation of medical documentation and record-keeping, training of local health care professionals, and quarterly visits by international volunteer physicians and laboratory experts. Management and treatment decisions are made bilaterally. To date, nearly 1,500 patients have been evaluated, and over 800 have been started on long-term antiviral therapy. It is envisioned that this program will eventually be managed and funded by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Ministry of Public Health. This program's success demonstrates a potential model for delivery of antiviral therapy for patients suffering from hepatitis B in other developing countries.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.106-111
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Hepatitis A is a typical acute hepatitis caused by hepatovirus, and then most patients recover easily without progression to chronic condition. However, certain cases have the risk of severe symptoms or even death. This case report presented a hepatitis A accompanied with pancreatitis, which had been completely recovered in a Korean medicine hospital. Case presentation: A 38-year woman had felt the malaise, mild chilling, muscle pain and abdominal discomfort for 10 days, which led her visit doctors and took anti-pyretic analgesics and digestants. The symptoms, especially epigastric pain and fatigue, became worse, and then she hospitalized in a Korean medicine hospital. Based on the drastic elevations of hepatic enzymes (aspartate transaminase 1,604 IU/L and alanine transaminase 2,825IU/L) with an anti-HAV IgM positive, she was diagnosed with hepatitis A. After bed rest and herbal drug treatment (CGX and Innae-Tang) for 5 days, the laboratory abnormalities and subjective symptoms had been improved gradually, except the upper gastric discomfort and pain. Those symptoms had anticipated the comorbidity with HAV-induced pancreatitis, supported by the high level of serum lipase release. Another 5-day hospitalized treatment improved all subjective symptoms and then the laboratory results were completely normalized including detection of anti-HAV IgG within 15 days after discharge. Conclusion: This study presented a typical hepatitis A accompanied with pancreatitis, which should be considered in diagnosis and management of hepatitis A.

• Laboratory Medicine and Quality Assurance
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.51-69
• /
• 2018

As part of the immunoserology program of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service, we organized two trials on the external quality assessment of hepatitis viral markers in 2016 and 2017. The hepatitis viral antigens and antibodies program consisted of 10 test items. We delivered two and three types of pooled sera specimens to 965 and 965 institutions for the first and second trials of external proficiency testing in 2016, respectively. The number of participating laboratories was 915 (94.8%) and 913 (95.0%) in the first and second trials in 2016, respectively. We also delivered three kinds of pooled sera specimens to 936 and 1,015 institutions for the first and second trials of external proficiency testing in 2017, respectively. The number of participating laboratories was 920 (98.3%) and 996 (98.1%) in the first and second trials in 2017, respectively. The most commonly tested items were hepatitis B surface antigen, followed by the antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B envelope antigen, antibodies to hepatitis B envelope antigen, anti-hepatitis A virus and antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen. The most frequently used methods for detecting viral markers were the chemiluminescence immunoassay and the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, but they yielded a few-false positive results due to the matrix effect. The immunochromatographic assay yielded false-negative results for anti-hepatitis A virus due to low sensitivity. Continuous improvement in the quality of viral hepatitis testing through participation in the survey seems necessary.