The challenges of hepatitis C management in Iran: A qualitative study with patients

Abstract

Background: The patient's perspective concerning the treatment process and the knowledge of the challenges and problems that they encounter can help to improve their treatment conditions. Aim: The present study aimed at analyzing the experiences of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients in Iran and the challenges encountered during the management and treatment process. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth and face-to-face interviews were conducted. The criteria for selecting patients were as follows: HCV-positive subjects, with confirmed diagnosis of HCV, and under treatment. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. MAXQDA Ver11 software was used to better manage data. This study is based on the "Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research" (COREQ) checklist.Results: Twenty-one HCV patients were interviewed. The mean age of participants was 36.14 ± 11.29 years. Seven themes with 20 subthemes emerged from the content analysis of the interviews, namely, (a) disease-related stigma, (b) lack of knowledge, (c) psychological problems, (d) financial problems, (e) complications of treatment, (f) lack of family and community support, and (g) health-care system. Conclusion:The findings of this study showed that a range of economic, social, and cultural problems could affect the treatment of HCV patients. Health policy and decision

The social perspective of viral hepatitis: Scope review

“…Primeiro autor e ano Título (Henderson & Kawakami, 2018) Hepatitis C and the Social Hierarchy: How Stigma Is Built in Rural Communities (Skeer et al, 2018) 'Hep C's like the common cold': Understanding barriers along the HCV care continuum among young people who inject drugs (Behzadifar et al, 2019) The challenges of hepatitis C management in Iran: A qualitative study with patients (Cloud et al, 2019) Rural risk environments for hepatitis c among young adults in appalachian Kentucky (Snyder et al, No que se refere à área de atuação dos autores, destacou-se a saúde pública (19 artigos), a medicina (05 artigos), a sociologia da saúde (04 artigos) e a epidemiologia (03 artigos). As áreas de segurança sanitária, saúde e economia, saúde comunitária, enfermagem e biociências apresentaram um artigo cada.…”

“…O estigma social das hepatites virais foi destacado como barreira para diagnóstico e tratamento (Lee et al, 2017;Rajamoorthy et al, 2019;Skeer et al, 2018). Dentre os produtores e reprodutores desse estigma, evidenciaram-se os profissionais de saúde, operadores de políticas públicas, seguradoras de saúde (Skeer et al, 2018), organizações governamentais (Behzadifar et al, 2019;Skeer et al, 2018;Zabihi et al, 2017) e empregadores (Le Gautier et al, 2020).…”

“…A renda dos participantes foi associada à percepção sobre os problemas de saúde, ao entendimento das informações e à adesão aos procedimentos terapêuticos (Farias et al, 2019;Le Gautier et al, 2020;Rajamoorthy et al, 2019;Skeer et al, 2018;Tosun et al, 2018;Williams et al, 2019;Zabihi et al, 2017;Zheng et al, 2017). Os participantes com menor nível socioeconômico, que recebiam benefício governamental ou estavam desempregados apresentaram maiores taxas de infecção (Behzadifar et al, 2019;Henderson & Kawakami, 2018;Meffre et al, 2010;Valdespino et al, 2007).…”

“…Os participantes relataram negligência e rejeição, principalmente, na divulgação do diagnóstico. Esses fatos foram reportados por usuários de drogas, imigrantes, mulheres lésbicas e bissexuais (Banwell et al, 2005;Behzadifar et al, 2019;Fang & Stewart, 2018;Skeer et al, 2018).…”