Public knowledge and attitudes toward liver diseases and liver cancer in the Brazilian population: a cross sectional study.

Bittencourt, Paulo Lisboa; Codes, Liana; Cesar, Heloisa Furia; Gomes Ferraz, Maria Lucia · Lancet Reg Health Am · 2023

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

Little is known about the knowledge of the Brazilian population regarding prevention/screening/diagnosis of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to investigate the public knowledge/attitudes toward liver diseases in Brazil. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which 1.995 adults were prospectively interviewed regarding knowledge about cirrhosis/HCC and attitudes toward vaccination and viral hepatitis (VH) testing. Most of the Brazilian subjects believe that alcohol abuse (63%-87%), NAFLD (29%-53%) and smoking (31%-47%) are the leading causes of cirrhosis/HCC. VH were less often linked to both diseases. Brazilians agreed that NAFLD is a risk factor for cirrhosis, cancer and cardiovascular diseases; 66%, 48% and 40% were submitted to hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis B and C testing, particularly those with older age, higher level of education and income. VH was not considered by the majority of the Brazilians as an important cause liver disease, leading a large proportion of those subjects to neglect hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis B and C testing. This work was supported by Brazilian Liver Institute.