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Elizabeth Yi

Elizabeth-Yi-poster

Knowledge of Asian American Adults on Risk Factors Associated With Liver Cancer Before a Prevention Program in New York City

Name Elizabeth Yi
Institution Center for Asian Health, Temple University
Research Field Population Cancer Research
Role at Institution Undergraduate Student
Presenter(s) Elizabeth Yi

Abstract

Knowledge of Asian American Adults on Risk Factors Associated with Liver Cancer Before a Prevention Program in New York City

Elizabeth Yi;1 Wenyue Lu, ML, PhD(c);1,2 Safa Ibrahim, BA;3 Kerry Traub, BA;1 Ada Wong;4 Evelyn Gonzalez, MPH;5 Lin Zhu, PhD;1 Marilyn A Fraser, MD6; Yin Tan, MD, MPH;1 Ming-Chin Yeh, PhD7

1Center for Asian health, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
2Department of Sociology, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
3Department of Biological Sciences, and Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY
4NY-Presbyterian-Lower Manhattan Hospital, New York, NY
5Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
6Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, Brooklyn, NY
7Nutrition Program, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 

Background: Approximately 70% of liver cancer cases are caused by hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV). Asian Americans (AAs) are disproportionally affected by liver cancer, with a mortality rate 60% higher than that of Caucasians. In recent years the incidence rate of liver cancer in New York City has been 35% higher than the national average.

Methods: To increase awareness of liver cancer prevention and screening, we partnered with community-based organizations to collaboratively develop and conduct a liver cancer prevention project in New York City. We collected assessment data from Asian American community members who participated in our educational workshops. This presentation will report preliminary findings from 53 participants’ knowledge on HBV, HCV, and liver cancer prior to the intervention. Chi-square and t-test were used in data analysis.

Results: Around half of the participants reported ever hearing about HBV (48.1%) and HCV (60.4%) from their doctors, and much less of them ever got HBV (37.7%) and HCV (9.4%) blood tests. Although the participants were knowledgeable on HBV/HCV transmission (scored 7.9 out of 10), they lack the knowledge on liver cancer risk factors (scored 1.9 out of 5). Those who were covered with health insurance were more knowledgeable on identifying risk factors of liver cancer than those uncovered (1.94 vs. 1.00, p<0.001).

Conclusions: The findings reveal there is a pressing need for educational intervention to promote liver cancer interventions among at-risk Asian Americans, especially in New York City. 

Acknowledgement:  This study reported in the abstract is funded, in part, by TUFCCC/HC Regional Comprehensive Cancer Health Disparity Partnership, Award Number U54 CA221704(5) (Contact PIs: Grace X. Ma, PhD and Olorunseun O. Ogunwobi, MD, PhD) from the National Cancer Institute and by NIH/NIGMS award # 1SC3GM131949-01 (PI: Ming-Chin Yeh). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health.

Email questions and comments about this abstract to tuh06470@temple.edu.