Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2017 Apr;8(2):124-129. 10.24171/j.phrp.2017.8.2.04.

Quality of Life of Chronic Hepatitis C Patients and Its Associated Factors

• Cho HJ
• Park E

• KMID: 2385158
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2017.8.2.04

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
METHODS
This study is based on a descriptive survey and involved 125 gastroenterology outpatients visiting a university hospital in South Korea as the participants. HRQOL was assessed using the Liver Disease Quality of Life 1.0, which consisted of Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Liver Disease Targeted Scale. Data were collected from December 2015 to April 2016, which were then analyzed through multiple regression analysis.
RESULTS
HRQOL had a statistically significant correlation with age, sex, educational level, living type, employment status, monthly income level, and comorbidity status. This study showed that age > 51 years, female sex, high educational level, living alone, unemployment status, low monthly income, and presence of comorbidity had negative effects on the HRQOL of patients with CHC (R² = 8.7%-34.6%).
CONCLUSION
Based on the result of this study, intervention for patients with CHC needs to be developed to enhance their HRQOL. The findings can serve as a useful reference for nursing personnel in the development of therapeutic plans to upgrade the care of CHC patients.

Keyword

chronic hepatitis C; health; patient; quality of life

MeSH Terms

Comorbidity
Employment
Female
Gastroenterology
Hepatitis C, Chronic*
Hepatitis, Chronic*
Humans
Korea
Liver Diseases
Nursing
Outpatients
Quality of Life*
Unemployment