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. 2011 Jun;17(2):99-105.
doi: 10.3350/kjhep.2011.17.2.99.

A study of the awareness of chronic liver diseases among Korean adults

Dae Won Jun  1 , Yong Kyun Cho, Joo Hyun Sohn, Chang Hyeong Lee, Seok Hyun Kim, Jong Ryul Eun
Affiliations

A study of the awareness of chronic liver diseases among Korean adults

Dae Won Jun et al. Korean J Hepatol. 2011 Jun.

Abstract

Background/aims: Chronic liver disease is closely associated with lifestyle, and public enlightenment of the lifestyle factors is important in reducing prevalence of chronic liver disease. The KASL (Korean Association for the Study of the Liver) conducted a survey of basic information and epidemiological data regarding chronic liver diseases.

Methods: A survey of chronic liver disease involving a total of 2,794 respondents was conducted. The respondents included patients and their guardians, visitors for health check-ups, and online pollees who completed a questionnaire on the awareness of fatty liver or chronic liver disease.

Results: Of the entire cohort, 854 (39.7%) said they have had or still have fatty liver or an elevated transaminase level (>40 IU/L), but only 23.4% of the respondents had visited a hospital. It was found that 35% of healthy subjects and 45% of patients and their guardians misunderstood hepatitis B as the hereditary disesase. Furthermore, 26% of the subjects responded that patients with inactive hepatitis B do not require regular follow-up. While 17.9% answered that it is not too late to test for liver cancer when symptoms arise, 38.8% believed that liver transplant in liver cancer patients has a low success rate and is thus not recommended.

Conclusions: Despite the inundation of information and widespread media advertising, the awareness of chronic liver disease is unsatisfactory among Korean adults. Systematic nationwide studies are needed to obtain data and information regarding the prevalence of chronic liver disease and patterns of use of the health-care system.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The amount of money claimed from National Health Insurance Cooperation due to chronic liver diseases is increased from the year 2005 to 2007.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The considerable number of respondents have a distorted awareness about their own body shape.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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