| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of the research work – to evaluate chronic hepatitis C patients quality of life and to determine the quality of life affecting factors. The goals of the research work. To assess an impact of demographic factors on the quality of life of patients with chronic viral hepatitis C. To investigate a level of knowledge about chronic hepatitis C in patients suffered with this disease. To determine an impact of available knowledge about the disease on quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C. To evaluate the specific antiviral treatment side effects influence on the quality of life. To assess the role of nurses in improving the quality of patients life. The research population. 52 chronic hepatitis C patients undergone antiviral therapy in VUL “Santariškių klinikos” Centre of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Dietetics were studied. The research methods. The research was carried out using methods for analysis of surveys and medical documents. Patients knowledge about the disease and antiviral treatment side effects was evaluated using survey questionnaire and SF-36 quality of life assessment questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using the Microsoft Office Excel 2003 and SPSS 15.0 for Windows statistical program. The results and conclusions. During the research it was found that men statistically worse, as compared with the same characteristics of women, scored following domains of the quality of life: "the activity limitation due to physical problems" and "social activities". The age and education did not affect the quality of life in chronic hepatitis C patients. When level of knowledge about the disease in chronic hepatitis C patients was evaluated, it was found, that they had lack of knowledge about the disease. The best knowledge patients had about the use of the medicines, while the least - about the treatment side effects and their reducing methods. After assessing of the impact of the patients knowledge about the disease on the quality of life was estimated that those who were aware enough about the disease considered their quality of life significantly higher. According to our data, antiviral therapy had negative impact on quality of life due to it’s side effects. Patients quality of life was statistically significant depended on the number of side effects manifested during the treatment. The statistically significant association was found between the treatment side effects reduction methods applied and the evaluation of quality of life overall. The more side effects were adjusted during the treatment, the higher quality of life appears to be. It was found that the majority of the patients the information about their disease and treatment have received from the doctor. Nurses role in training and advising the patients and thereby improving the quality of life of patients is low. Nurses have learned patients sufficiently well how to inject medicines, but they can‘t give other knowledge about the disease and possible treatment side effects. |
