Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection through Universal Screening

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Clin Nurs
• Personal Author:
  Turner, Barbara J. ; Craig, Kathryn ; Makanji, Vidhi S. ; Flores, Bertha E. ; Hernandez, Ludivina
• Description:
  Aims and objectives
  
  The objective of this study was to identify support needs of low income baby boomers recently diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
  
  Background
  
  The United States Preventive Services Task Force has endorsed one-time screening of all baby boomers (born 1945 to 1965) for hepatitis C because 75% of the estimated 2 to 3 million persons with chronic infection are in this age range. We hypothesized that persons diagnosed by routine screening would have significant psycho-emotional, cognitive, and health care challenges that need to be met by collaborative care and services from nurses and other health care personnel.
  
  Design
  
  Qualitative descriptive study of data from three focus groups with predominantly minority participants (N=16). Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, transcribed data were categorized by 3 domains in a previously developed model and a new domain identified in this study. Frequencies of unique participants’ comments about each theme were calculated.
  
  Results
  
  Elucidated domains were: 1) psycho-emotional effects due to social stigma, shame, fear, dealing with risky behaviors; 2) social effects due to concerns about infecting others; and 3) cognitive deficits because of poor understanding about HCV infection and its care. A new domain related to health care emerged reflecting the following themes: poor access to care, barriers to costly treatment, and navigating complex care for comorbidities. Despite these challenges, participants strongly endorsed universal baby boomer hepatitis C virus screening.
  
  Conclusion
  
  This study describes psycho-emotional and social challenges of people dealing with a hepatitis C diagnosis that are compounded by poor knowledge and barriers to supportive care.
  
  Relevance to clinical practice
  
  Nursing and other allied health personnel require structured support programs to assist older persons diagnosed with hepatitis C with addressing these common challenges with the ultimate goal of achieving a cure.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Aged Female Focus Groups Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Hepacivirus Hepatitis C, Chronic Humans Male Mass Screening Middle Aged Patient Education As Topic Poverty

  More +
• Source:
  J Clin Nurs. 26(23-24):4605-4612.
• Pubmed ID:
  28295785
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5599316
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  KL2 TR001118/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; TL1 TR001119/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States ; U51 PS003918/PS/NCHHSTP CDC HHS/United States ; UL1 TR001120/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  26
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:8ee5145550958565d94e5196a7192363312e5aac5c8b51abe69fb918866ea8ef
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/48213/cdc_48213_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 81.16 KB ]