Qualitative Interviews on The Diagnosis Process of Hepatitis B Among 50 Patients in Chongqing, China

Abstract

Objective: To identify the obstacles preventing and controlling hepatitis B and put forward suggestions for its prevention and treatment by describing the discovery process of hepatitis B patients. Methods: We conducted face-to-face interviews with 50 hepatitis B patients in Chongqing, China from July to August 2019 by constructing a thematic analysis framework, which included interviewees’ social demographic characteristics, diagnosis approach, signs and symptoms at the time of discovery, feelings after diagnosis, and doctor’s instructions.Results: Most of the patients were firstly found hepatitis B via physical examination when patients were asymptomatic or had no obvious symptoms. The majority of them were shocked, frightened, and at a loss when they were diagnosed. The patients could remember doctor’s instructions on keeping healthy lifestyle, but they had very little impression about doctors’ reminding about regular liver function test. Failure of regular follow-up to liver function test brought irreversible loss for certain patients.Conclusions: Most of the patients were found hepatitis B passively. The patients need professional mental help after the diagnosis to overcome the negative emotion. The doctors’ instruction should emphasize more on the importance of regular follow-up to liver function test besides health lifestyle.