ELPA, WHA announce educational program for hepatitis B patients

The European Liver Patients Association (ELPA) and the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), announced today on the 4th annual World Hepatitis Day that 'PATH B - "Patients and Professionals Acting Together for Hepatitis B" - My journey with chronic hepatitis B', a comprehensive educational resource designed to improve the lives of people living with chronic hepatitis B, is to be launched in August 2011. PATH B aims to increase patient understanding of the consequences of chronic hepatitis B and improve patient-physician dialogue, with the goal of enhancing chronic hepatitis B disease management, resulting in a better quality of life.

The PATH B programme, the first of its kind, was developed by an independent advisory board that includes people living with hepatitis B, as well as patient advocacy group representatives and leading hepatologists from France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and the UK. The program was organised and funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

An example of the PATH B resource, an interactive PDF, can be previewed now at http://www.elpa-info.org/ please click This is hepatitis- banner on the home page and then go to News.

Challenges Faced by Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Hepatitis B is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. There are 350-400 million people infected with chronic hepatitis B worldwide yet it remains a disease that is often under diagnosed and under treated. In fact, an estimated 50% of those diagnosed are not being treated, even though they meet guideline criteria for treatment.

"There is a large information gap for chronic hepatitis B patients between their initial diagnoses and the long-term management of their disease," said PATH B advisory board member, Achim Kautz, ELPA Board Member. "For the first time, this toolkit seeks to fill that unmet need for complete and reliable information that patients can depend on through every step of their disease."

"As a clinician, I have seen that patients who are more knowledgeable about their disease feel empowered and in control and tend to have better outcomes," said PATH B advisory board member, Dr. Mark Wilkinson of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK. "This programme is one of the most comprehensive support tools for patients diagnosed with hepatitis B available, and helps patients and physicians engage in important conversations about managing their disease in the long-term."

Although this resource was developed primarily for patients it can also be a helpful resource for physicians to enhance dialogue with patients on disease progression, treatment and the importance of adherence and persistency.