Liver cancer global awareness survey
Chronic viral hepatitis can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for 80% of all liver cancer cases and is the third most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Despite this, few studies have been conducted on the awareness of viral hepatitis’ connection to liver cancer in the general population.
To gain a greater understanding of public awareness on the link between liver cancer and hepatitis the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) undertook a globally representative survey in nine countries, Argentina, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Nigeria, South Korea, Viet Nam, and the United States of America. The countries were selected based on geographic representation and their rates of liver cancer.
WHA developed an online self-completion questionnaire, consisting of five multiple choice questions to assess awareness of the link between viral hepatitis and liver cancer and if that knowledge affects their likelihood to be tested or vaccinated for viral hepatitis. The survey was distributed by the Survey Monkey audience platform to the general public between 30 June to 4 July 2023.
569 participants responded and the survey found that nearly half (42%) of respondents were unaware that one of the leading causes of liver cancer is viral hepatitis. Nearly three quarters (74%) of the respondents indicated that knowing hepatitis causes liver cancer means that they are more likely to get tested and over four fifths (82%) responded that they are more likely to get vaccinated.
Key findings | |||||
Question | Participant responded ‘Yes’ | Participant responded ‘No’ | Participant responded ‘Unsure’ | Total responses | Participant skipped question |
Did you know that one of the leading causes of liver cancer is viral hepatitis? | 57.71% | 42.29% | Not an option | 558 | 11 |
Are you more likely to get tested for hepatitis because you know hepatitis causes liver cancer? | 72.91% | 24.18% | 2.91% | 550 | 19 |
Are you more likely to get vaccinated for hepatitis B because you know it also protects against liver cancer? | 80.69% | 16.94% | 2.00% | 549 | 20 |
The survey indicated that a significant percentage of people are unaware of the link between hepatitis and liver cancer. It also indicated that if people are aware of the connection, they felt more likely to get tested for hepatitis and to be vaccinated against hepatitis B. This demonstrates why it is critical to raise awareness that viral hepatitis is one of the leading causes of liver cancer to accelerate progress towards the World Health Organization’s goal to eliminate hepatitis by 2030.
The global incidence of liver cancer can be reduced through increased vaccination for hepatitis B and treatment for hepatitis B and C. WHA calls for health systems to integrate hepatitis services into their cancer prevention programmes in order to decrease cancer mortality and support the elimination of hepatitis as a public health threat.
Read more about our work on hepatitis and liver cancer here.