New Educational Resource to Help People Living with Chronic Hepatitis B

A new educational resource, designed to improve the lives of people living with chronic hepatitis B, is now available in Australia.
PATH B aims to improve communication between those living with chronic hepatitis B and their healthcare professionals (HCPs) to improve understanding and management of the condition.
To help those Australian communities impacted by Hepatitis B, PATH B is available in Vietnamese and traditional Chinese as well as English.
PATH B (“Patients and Professionals Acting Together for Hepatitis B”) consists of a road map that guides those living with the condition through every step of managing their hepatitis B. The six stages of the roadmap cover key aspects of the journey from diagnosis to long-term disease management.
Recent surveys and research have found that, for many living with chronic hepatitis B, a lack of knowledge and poor understanding of the condition is a major issue. This can adversely affect patient-physician communication, delay testing and diagnosis, as well as patients’ subsequent adherence to treatment.
Helen Tyrrell, Hepatitis Australia Chief Executive Officer, said “Unfortunately chronic hepatitis B is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world, yet far too many Australians living with the disease are not adequately educated on how best to manage their disease.
“What we have seen as a result is chronic hepatitis B going unchecked, unmanaged and untreated within Australia. “However, we hope a resource like PATH B will empower those living with chronic hepatitis B and their families, arming them with the knowledge and understanding they need to better manage their health and tackle hepatitis B.”
PATH B includes an online diary where people living with chronic hepatitis B can record notes, test results, medical appointments as well as any issues related to their condition or treatment that they may wish to discuss with their GP, hepatologist or hepatitis nurse.
PATH B also contains a ‘View Your Progress’ tool, which allows people living with chronic hepatitis B to plot their test results over time and chart the progress of their treatment. The aim of this tool is to help people understand their treatment, therefore encouraging adherence