Hepatitis C virus(HCV) hepatitis and other diseases related to HCV,such as cryoglobulinemia,lymphoma and renal failure,impair health-related quality of life(HRQoL).In addition,HCV per se might directly influence HRQoL...Hepatitis C virus(HCV) hepatitis and other diseases related to HCV,such as cryoglobulinemia,lymphoma and renal failure,impair health-related quality of life(HRQoL).In addition,HCV per se might directly influence HRQoL via colonization of microglia in the brain or,indirectly,via the effect of systemic inflammatory cytokines which,in turn,can trigger brain interleukin production.The treatment of HCV-related disorders with interferon(IFN) has an effect on HRQoL.Initially,IFN causes a transient deterioration of HRQoL,due to the induction of depression and other side effects of treatment.Subsequently,the subjects who obtain a sustained virologic response experience an improvement in HRQoL.Only rarely does interferon treatment causes permanent detrimental effects on HRQoL,due to residual psychiatric or neurologic side effects.Liver transplantation is the only treatment for end-stage HCV-related liver disease.HRQoL generally improves massively a few months after transplantation,except in the case of serious complications of the transplant procedure.Furthermore,high levels of anxiety and neuroticism pre-transplant are associated with lower HRQoL one year after transplant.Additionally,six months after transplant,patients with HCV who experience virologic recurrence show significantly greater depression,anxiety,phobic anxiety,and paranoid ideation than anti-HCV-negative patients.In conclusion,optimal care for the overall well-being of patients with HCV infection requires adequate knowledge of their neurological and psychological status.展开更多
AIM:To study knowledge levels and attitudes of health care providers toward patients with hepatitis C virus infection in Guilan,a northern province of Iran.METHODS:This cross-sectional study was performed on 239 healt...AIM:To study knowledge levels and attitudes of health care providers toward patients with hepatitis C virus infection in Guilan,a northern province of Iran.METHODS:This cross-sectional study was performed on 239 health care professionals from the Razi Hospital,including doctors,nurses,and operating room technicians.The questionnaires consisted of questions on demographic characteristics,knowledge levels,and attitudes toward hepatitis C patients.The questionnaire was tested in a pilot study and validated by Cronbach' s alpha coefficient.Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software.RESULTS:The mean ± SD knowledge score was 17.43 ± 2.65(from a total of 22).51.9% of the participants achieved scores higher than the mean.There was a significant relationship between knowledge score and age(P = 0.001),gender(P = 0.0001),occupational history(P = 0.0001),and educational history(P = 0.027).There was also a significant relationship between attitude level and age(P = 0.002),gender(P = 0.0001),occupational history(P = 0.0001),and educational history(P = 0.035).Physicians were significantly more knowledgeable and showed more positive attitudes.There was a positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores(P = 0.02).CONCLUSION:Discriminatory attitudes are common among health care providers toward hepatitis C patients.It is therefore necessary to improve their knowledge level and attitude toward this disease.展开更多
文摘Hepatitis C virus(HCV) hepatitis and other diseases related to HCV,such as cryoglobulinemia,lymphoma and renal failure,impair health-related quality of life(HRQoL).In addition,HCV per se might directly influence HRQoL via colonization of microglia in the brain or,indirectly,via the effect of systemic inflammatory cytokines which,in turn,can trigger brain interleukin production.The treatment of HCV-related disorders with interferon(IFN) has an effect on HRQoL.Initially,IFN causes a transient deterioration of HRQoL,due to the induction of depression and other side effects of treatment.Subsequently,the subjects who obtain a sustained virologic response experience an improvement in HRQoL.Only rarely does interferon treatment causes permanent detrimental effects on HRQoL,due to residual psychiatric or neurologic side effects.Liver transplantation is the only treatment for end-stage HCV-related liver disease.HRQoL generally improves massively a few months after transplantation,except in the case of serious complications of the transplant procedure.Furthermore,high levels of anxiety and neuroticism pre-transplant are associated with lower HRQoL one year after transplant.Additionally,six months after transplant,patients with HCV who experience virologic recurrence show significantly greater depression,anxiety,phobic anxiety,and paranoid ideation than anti-HCV-negative patients.In conclusion,optimal care for the overall well-being of patients with HCV infection requires adequate knowledge of their neurological and psychological status.
文摘AIM:To study knowledge levels and attitudes of health care providers toward patients with hepatitis C virus infection in Guilan,a northern province of Iran.METHODS:This cross-sectional study was performed on 239 health care professionals from the Razi Hospital,including doctors,nurses,and operating room technicians.The questionnaires consisted of questions on demographic characteristics,knowledge levels,and attitudes toward hepatitis C patients.The questionnaire was tested in a pilot study and validated by Cronbach' s alpha coefficient.Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software.RESULTS:The mean ± SD knowledge score was 17.43 ± 2.65(from a total of 22).51.9% of the participants achieved scores higher than the mean.There was a significant relationship between knowledge score and age(P = 0.001),gender(P = 0.0001),occupational history(P = 0.0001),and educational history(P = 0.027).There was also a significant relationship between attitude level and age(P = 0.002),gender(P = 0.0001),occupational history(P = 0.0001),and educational history(P = 0.035).Physicians were significantly more knowledgeable and showed more positive attitudes.There was a positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores(P = 0.02).CONCLUSION:Discriminatory attitudes are common among health care providers toward hepatitis C patients.It is therefore necessary to improve their knowledge level and attitude toward this disease.