ILLNESS REPRESENTATIONS, COPING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS C UNDERGOING ANTIVIRAL THERAPY

 
 
 
 

ILLNESS REPRESENTATIONS, COPING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS C UNDERGOING ANTIVIRAL THERAPY

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Title: ILLNESS REPRESENTATIONS, COPING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS C UNDERGOING ANTIVIRAL THERAPY
Author: FOWLER, CHRISTOPHER L
Description: Background: An individual’s personal view of illness is determined by a variety of factors including the cause of the illness, its consequences, the chronicity of the illness, the symptoms experienced, and the potential for recovery. Hepatitis C, a chronic illness caused by a viral infection, is increasing in prevalence and those infected often do not realize it until irreparable liver injury has occurred. Some individuals may be treated with medications that can eradicate the virus and prevent further liver injury; however, side effects of this therapy can be severe. The overall aim of this study was to explore the relationships among illness perceptions, coping, and quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C who were undergoing treatment with antiviral therapy. To date, no one had explored these concepts in persons with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: A single-sample, cross-sectional research design was used for this study. The study was conducted at an outpatient treatment center in Dallas, Texas, for individuals infected with hepatitis C. A convenience sample of 99 individuals was recruited. Data were collected using self-report information obtained from a Demographic Data Form, the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 version 2 (SF36v2). Correlational statistical analysis was used to determine the relationships among illness representations, coping strategies, and quality of life. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the predictive ability of the dimensions of illness representations on the dependent variables of emotion-focused coping, problem-focused coping, mental health, and physical health. Results: Significant correlations existed between many of the dimensions of illness representations, coping strategies, and quality of life. The regression analysis demonstrated that illness representations are predictive of coping strategies and quality of life. Illness representations were better at predicting emotion-focused coping strategies and mental health (R2 = .50 & .58, respectively) than they were at predicting problem-focused coping strategies and physical health (R2 = .38 & .46, respectively). All regression equations had substantial residuals, indicating that more accurate prediction of the dependent variables was possible. Further exploration of these variables is warranted using path analysis.
Permanent Link: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1178120919
http://hdl.handle.net/2374.OX/12512
Date: 2007

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