Attendance Among People With Hepatitis B in UK Secondary Care: A Scoping Review

Chronic Hepatitis B disease requires lifelong monitoring to prevent complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite structured care pathways, non-attendance within UK secondary care remains challenging. This scoping review aimed to synthesise existing evidence on factors influencing non-attendance at secondary care appointments and strategies to improve appointment adherence among people living with Chronic Hepatitis B. Eligibility Criteria: Peer-reviewed sources examining adults with Hepatitis B attendance at UK secondary care services. Grey literature was excluded. Sources of Evidence: Searches were performed in CINAHL Ultimate, Medline, Embase, Scopus and APA PsycINFO. Data were charted using a structured data extraction form and synthesised narratively. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Identified barriers included patient-related factors (e.g., limited health literacy, stigmatisation, competing priorities), system-level challenges (e.g., appointment scheduling and accessibility) and cultural or language barriers. Psychological factors, including fear of diagnosis and treatment side effects, were also reported. Reported strategies included patient education, culturally tailored interventions, reminder systems (e.g., SMS and telephone calls) and integrated care models involving community outreach. Non-attendance among people with chronic Hepatitis B in secondary care is influenced by a complex interplay of personal, social and systemic factors. Interventions that address multiple barriers, particularly those that incorporate culturally sensitive approaches and reminder systems, may improve engagement. Further research is needed to co-design and evaluate interventions with affected communities.