A new, free to access e-learning course on hepatitis B in Scotland and a “Living with hepatitis B” booklet have been launched by Hepatitis Scotland.

Hepatitis B is a blood-borne infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus infects the liver, causing inflammation and potentially further damage over many years.

Hepatitis Scotland estimates that over 257 million people are chronically infected worldwide. Almost 5,000 people had been diagnosed and were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in Scotland by the end of 2016. However, this figure only represents 55% of the estimated 9,000 people living with hepatitis B across the country.

The e-learning course, Hepatitis B in Scotland, has been developed to increase participants’ understanding and awareness of the illness, via the Scottish Drug Forum (SDF) website.

The course defines hepatitis B and describes those who may be at risk of infection, and aims to help participants identify the symptoms of acute and chronic hepatitis B, and who should get tested. The course is aimed at those who come into contact with people who use drugs, teachers, police, housing workers, social workers, mental health workers and the general public.

Hepatitis B in Scotland can be completed in around 2 hours, or in separate sittings to provide a fully flexible learning experience.

The newly launched booklet, Living with hepatitis B, is designed as a resource to assist those who have been diagnosed with hepatitis B and can be used in a variety of settings. The booklet has been reviewed by key people working in this area in Scotland, and is available to view or download as a pdf from the Hepatitis Scotland website (along with a range of other resources).

To access the e-learning course, please visit the SDF website. (You will need to register or login to the SDF training site in order to access the course.)