Communicating hepatitis B: a content, readability and suitability assessment of Australian hepatitis B patient resources

Globally, 254 million people are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus and over 200,000 people in Australia are living with chronic hepatitis B. Over 70% of people living with hepatitis B in Australia are born overseas, therefore the communities affected by hepatitis B are culturally and linguistically diverse. Given the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, it is essential that people with hepatitis B are engaged in care and ongoing monitoring. This study evaluates the content, readability, and suitability of Australian hepatitis B education resources. An inductive content analysis identified the main concepts covered in resources, readability was assessed using three readability calculations, and the suitability of materials tool was used to assess the suitability of resources. Three categories were developed from the content analysis: structure and form of resources, presentation of biomedical information, and emphasis on treatment and prevention. Most resources did not meet the readability level requirement recommended in Australia for low literacy resources. All resources were deemed adequate based on scores from the suitability of materials assessment. Involvement of key populations affected should continue to be supported for the conceptualisation and design of hepatitis B education materials.