Title: Experience of a Chinese Hepatitis B Peer Support Group (PSG): Successes and Challenges
Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is common among persons of Chinese descent. The Toronto Centre for Liver Disease (TCLD) Liver Clinic provides care to > 4,000 CHB patients; up to 75 % are ethnic Chinese. To address the care and knowledge gaps due to potential language barrier and cultural differences, a peer support group was initiated.
Purpose: This study describes the development of the Chinese hepatitis B peer support group within the TCLD Liver Clinic, its activities, accomplishments, as well as challenges.
Method: Descriptive
Results: The number of PSG members has grown from < 10 to over 250 over the years. Ongoing activities have included regular liver health talks, patient story-sharing sessions, special get-together events (e.g. Chinese New Year celebration), health seminars, and Tai-Chi wellness class. PSG outreach activities include participating in community health fairs with various groups, such as the Toronto Chinese Medical Association. We have organized FibroScan services and point-of-care hepatitis B testing project in Chinese shopping malls. Challenges to the PSG have included the loss of members during the COVID pandemic and the need to transition to virtual-only activities. Funding for the program has been through hospital’s Foundation; ongoing support is not guaranteed. Further exploration is needed to understand barriers to patients joining the support group.
Conclusions: This group is the first-of-its-kind in Canada. It has been valuable in providing support as well as promoting disease awareness among its own ethnic community, and therefore can be used as a strategy to drive progress towards viral hepatitis elimination.