Table 4.
GPs’ views and practices regarding hepatitis B testing of migrants born in intermediate- and high-prevalence countries
| Category | n | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use/awareness of HBV guidance | Use of local/national guidelines or other HBV resourcesa | 4 | 19 |
| Awareness of existence of NICE guidance PH43b | 1 | 15 | |
| Testing practice (before NICE guidance)c | Tested opportunistically migrants born in high-prevalence countries (for example, China, sub-Saharan Africa) | 3 | 19 |
| Future plans for testing (possible/very likely)d | Offer opportunistic and new registered patient testing | 17 | 19 |
| Start active case finding | 14 | 19 | |
| Barriers to testinge | Lack of resources (human, financial, logistical) and available time | 12 | 17 |
| Patients’ issues (awareness of HBV, acceptance of testing, compliance) | 10 | 17 | |
| Lack of HBV awareness of healthcare staff | 7 | 17 | |
| Language problems | 5 | 17 | |
| Usefulness of additional resources (very/a bit useful)f | Set up support for a person in the practice to perform contact tracing | 18 | 18 |
| Translated sample letters | 17 | 18 | |
| Automated flags in the GP electronic system for eligible patients | 17 | 17 | |
| Continuing professional development opportunities on hepatitis B | 17 | 17 | |
| Country of birth information available | 16 | 17 | |
| Improved access to translators | 13 | 15 |
HBV = Hepatitis B virus. The survey questions and possible answers were:
Do you routinely follow any local or national guidelines or use any resources to assist your decision making regarding testing for hepatitis B in migrants? Answers: (a) No (b) Yes.
Before receiving this questionnaire were you aware of the recent NICE public health guidance (Hepatitis B and C: ways to promote and offer testing to people at increased risk of infection, PH43) recommending that all people born in areas of intermediate or high hepatitis B prevalence should be offered a hepatitis B test? Answers: (a) No, this guidance had not been brought to my attention (b) Yes.
Prior to NICE guidance (December 2012 PH43), did you perform opportunistic testing for hepatitis B for patients born in regions of high hepatitis B prevalence (for example, China, sub-Saharan Africa)? Answers: (a) Yes this was my routine practice (b) No this was not my routine practice (c) Other.
Given that NICE public health guidance (PH43) now recommends testing in primary care for hepatitis B in all patients born in high- or intermediate-prevalence countries, how likely are you to do the following (in consultation with your partners)? Answers: (a) Already started (b) Very likely (c) Possible (d) Very unlikely (e) I don’t know.
In your opinion, what are the most significant barriers to testing eligible migrants for hepatitis B in your practice? (1 being the most important barrier). Answers: [free text].
What is your opinion on the current available resources and how useful would you find additional resources in assisting you with hepatitis B case finding? Answers: (a) Very useful (b) A bit useful (c) Not useful.