Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer: Community Awareness, Knowledge and Beliefs of Middle Eastern Migrants in Sydney, Australia.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a significant global health challenge given an increasing morbidity and inadequate public health response, Migrant populations are primarily affected by CHB in industrialised countries, and while more than 7% of Australians with CHB were born in Africa or the Middle East, little is known of their awareness or knowledge of viral hepatitis and its impact. This qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews with Assyrian and Arabic community leaders and focus groups (FG) with 66 community members sought to identify hepatitis and liver cancer knowledge and awareness among local Arabic and Assyrian-speaking communities in Western Sydney. Interviews were thematically analysed, with findings framing the topics for the FGs which were analysed using a framework analysis.

Using a chronic hepatitis B Registry to support population-level liver cancer prevention in Sydney, Australia.

Background: Approximately 1% of Australians have chronic hepatitis B (CHB), which disproportionately affects people born in hepatitis B-endemic countries. Currently, approximately half of the people affected remain undiagnosed and antiviral treatment uptake is suboptimal (~5%). This increases the likelihood of developing end-stage disease complications, particularly hepatocellular cancer (HCC), and largely accounts for the significant increases in HCC incidence and mortality in Australia over the last decades.

Perceptions of cancer of unknown primary site: a national survey of Australian medical oncologists.

Background: Despite being the sixth most common cause of cancer death in Australia, cancer of unknown primary (CUP) site remains poorly understood.

Aims: To describe practices relating to the diagnosis, investigation, classification, communication and management of CUP among medical oncologists.

Methods: We invited all members of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia to participate in a national, anonymous online survey about CUP.

Using consensus methods to develop a country-specific Master of Public Health curriculum for the Republic of Maldives.

Background: Over the last four decades, the health status of Maldivian people improved considerably, as reflected in child and maternal mortality indicators and the eradication or control of many communicable diseases. However, changing disease patterns are now undermining these successes, so the local public health practitioners need new skills to perform effectively in this changing environment. To address these needs, in 2013 the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Maldives National University developed the country's first Master of Public Health (MPH) program.

Listening to the consumer voice: developing multilingual cancer information resources for people affected by liver cancer.

Background: In Australia, liver cancer incidence is rising, particularly among people born in hepatitis B-endemic countries. We sought to build an understanding of the information needs of people affected by liver cancer, to inform the design of in-language consumer information resources.

Methods: We searched the World Wide Web for available in-language consumer information and conducted a literature search on consumers' information needs and their preferred means of accessing it.