Byline: Harold S. Margolis, H.Hunter Handsfield, R.Jake Jacobs, Joseph E. Gangid Keywords: Health education; hepatitis B vaccination; immunization; patient counseling; prevention; primary care Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of tools to identify and counsel patients at risk for sexually transmitted hepatitis B virus infection. Physicians were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group was provided with materials intended to encourage patients to return for counseling and to guide counseling concerning prevention of hepatitis B virus infection. Baseline data on 457 patients at risk for hepatitis B virus infection showed that 7% had received prevention counseling and 2% had begun hepatitis B vaccination. Counseling was least likely to occur in obstetric-gynecologic practices, among uninsured patients, and among patients whose only risk factor was a diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease. After a 6-month intervention period 26% of the intervention group patients and 7% of the control group patients had been counseled (P < .01). Vaccination was more likely among intervention group patients (8% vs Author Affiliation: Atlanta, Georgia, Seattle, Washington, Alexandria, Virginia, and Rockville, Maryland From the Hepatitis Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,.sup.a the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health and Department of Medicine, University of Washington,.sup.b Capitol Outcomes Research, Inc,.sup.c and QSI Incorporated..sup.d Members of the Hepatitis B-WARE Study Group are listed at the end of the article Article Note: (footnote) [star] Funded in part by an educational grant from SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals to QSI, Incorporated., [star][star] Reprint requests: Harold S. Margolis, MD, Hepatitis Branch (A-33), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333., a 6/1/98323