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Helicobacter pylori : an assessment of public awareness and acceptance of screening
Author(s) -
Stone M. A.,
Mayberry J. F.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
health and social care in the community
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.984
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1365-2524
pISSN - 0966-0410
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2524.1998.00102.x
Subject(s) - venipuncture , medicine , test (biology) , population , family medicine , helicobacter pylori , screening test , physical therapy , surgery , environmental health , paleontology , biology
Research studies involving population screening could be important in assessing short and long‐term benefits of eradicating H. pylori . Compliance with screening is an important factor to be considered. Two population studies sought to assess public awareness of H. pylori , interest in screening for the bacterium, and the acceptability of two blood tests. One hundred adults were interviewed in a street survey in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. Although only 4–14% of those interviewed had heard of H. pylori , 73% expressed an interest in screening. In the second study, a population sample of 50 men and women aged 21–55 years, from a general practice in the same town, were offered screening. This sample was divided into two matched groups of 25; one group was offered a test involving venepuncture and the other group was offered a ‘near‐patient’ finger prick test. To confirm results, this exercise was subsequently repeated with a further two groups of 25 subjects. There was an overall acceptance rate of 41% for the actual offer of screening. Overall, 28/50 subjects (56%) accepted venepuncture, but only 13/50 (26%) accepted the finger prick test.