Cultural tailoring to promote hepatitis B screening in Turkish Dutch: A randomized control study

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are an important health problem in Turkish migrants in the Netherlands. This study describes the effectiveness of a culturally tailored internet intervention promoting HBV screening in Turkish migrants. Methods: Turkish migrants, aged 16-40 years old, could participate in an online intervention offering either: (i) behaviourally plus culturally tailored (BCT) information; (ii) behaviourally tailored (BT) information or (iii) generic information (GI). Subsequently, free HBV screening was offered. Results: Out of 10.069 invited persons, 1512 (15%) logged in on the website and 623 people were tested. Screening uptake was 44% in the BCT group, 46% in the GI group and 44% in group BT. The BCT group showed favourable intervention effects for scores on determinants of screening when compared with baseline scores and BT. Conclusion: Although BCT did show favourable intervention effects for several determinants addressed in the intervention, we were not able to demonstrate the added value of BCT on screening uptake. Trial registration: The Netherlands National Trial Register NTR 2394.