Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yonsei Med J. 2022 Dec;63(12):1088-1098. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2022.0332.
National surveys in Korea have spotlighted suboptimal levels of awareness among the public towards liver-related health and diseases, leading to progressive reform of national policies and education efforts. This study aimed to assess the status of the Korean public's knowledge towards liver-related diseases.
A self-reported, cross-sectional, web-based questionnaire study was conducted between February-March 2020 among 1000 Korean adults. Questionnaire items assessed the knowledge, awareness, and behaviors towards liver-related health and diseases.
About half (50.9%-52.1%) knew untreated/chronic viral hepatitis could lead to liver failure and/or cancer. Misconceptions pertaining to viral hepatitis transmission risks exist with only 26.3% knowing viral hepatitis B cannot be transmitted by dining with an infected individual. About one-fifth (22.2%) were aware of an available cure for viral hepatitis C. Less than half were aware of the risk factors associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), despite 72.4% and 49.5% having heard of fatty liver disease and NASH, respectively. More than one-third were unlikely to seek medical consultation even if exposed to viral hepatitis risk factors or upon diagnosis with a liver condition. Reasons for this low urgency included costs-related concerns, perceptions of being healthy, and the viewpoint that the condition is not life-threatening.
The public's knowledge towards liver-related diseases in Korea was found to be lacking, which could account for a lower sense of urgency towards screening and treatment. More efforts are needed to address misperceptions and dispel stigma in an effort to encourage pro-health seeking behaviors.
韩国的全国性调查突显了公众对肝脏相关健康和疾病的认识不足，这导致了国家政策和教育工作的逐步改革。本研究旨在评估韩国公众对肝脏相关疾病的知识现状。
2020 年 2 月至 3 月期间，我们对 1000 名韩国成年人进行了一项自我报告的、横断面的、基于网络的问卷调查研究。问卷项目评估了公众对肝脏相关健康和疾病的知识、意识和行为。
约一半（50.9%-52.1%）的人知道未经治疗/慢性病毒性肝炎可导致肝衰竭和/或肝癌。关于病毒性肝炎传播风险存在误解，只有 26.3%的人知道乙型肝炎不能通过与感染者共餐传播。约五分之一（22.2%）的人知道丙型肝炎有可用的治疗方法。尽管 72.4%和 49.5%的人分别听说过脂肪肝和非酒精性脂肪性肝炎（NASH），但不到一半的人知道与非酒精性脂肪性肝炎相关的危险因素。超过三分之一的人即使接触到病毒性肝炎的危险因素或被诊断为肝脏疾病，也不太可能寻求医疗咨询。这种低紧迫性的原因包括费用相关的担忧、对健康的看法，以及认为病情不会危及生命的观点。
韩国公众对肝脏相关疾病的知识不足，这可能导致对筛查和治疗的紧迫性降低。需要做出更多努力来纠正误解和消除耻辱感，以鼓励健康寻求行为。
