The role of explanatory models of chronic hepatitis B on illness experience: a qualitative study of Vietnamese participants in Australia

ABSTRACTObjective: This study utilises Kleinman’s theory of explanatory modelsof health and illness to explore the experience of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) among Vietnamesepeople living in Australia. It examines how these explanatory modelsare formed and shaped by the broader community, and the extent to which this influences understandings and responses to CHB.Design: This study is based on semi-structured interviews with 22 Vietnamesepeople with CHB in Melbourne, Australia. The individual interviews ranged from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours in length, and were electronically recorded, translated where necessary and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were thematically coded using NVivo 10, with coding themes guided by categories identified in Kleinman’s explanatory modelsframework.Results: Fundamental to most participants’ narratives was the profound impact of cultural, social and economic environments on their understandings and responses to CHB. Regardless of socio-demographic background, most participant...