Predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors associated with hepatitis B testing in Chinese Canadians in British Columbia.

BACKGROUND Liver cancer, a significant health problem in Chinese, can be controlled through HBV blood testing, vaccination, and community education about HBV. The PRECEDE framework has been very helpful in identifying factors associated with health practices. OBJECTIVES The objective was to identify factors associated with HBV testing in Chinese Canadians, using the PRECEDE framework. METHODS Five hundred and thirty-three randomly selected Chinese Canadian adults were interviewed about HBV blood testing practices. Factors were grouped as predisposing, reinforcing and enabling. RESULTS Fifty-five percent had received HBV blood testing. Several predisposing factors, all reinforcing factors and one enabling factor were associated with HBV testing in bivariate analysis. A physician's recommendation for testing was the strongest factor associated with testing in multiple logistic regression analysis (OR=4.4, p<0.0001). INTERPRETATION Many Chinese Canadian adults in Vancouver have not been tested for HBV. Continuing educational efforts are needed and the PRECEDE framework can inform the development of health education interventions.