COPING STRATEGIES IN HEPATITIS C PATIENTS DURING THE COURSE OF ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT OF HCV

Abstract

The treatment of HCV is associated with distress due to treatment-related side effects. This study looks into different types of coping strategies implied by patients during treatment for HCV infection.100 HCV positive patients (n= 100, aged 18-60 years, M = 41.23, SD = 10.17) receiving treatment were selected. Participants were divided into four groups (n=25 each group) namely conventional interferon, pegylated interferon, oral antiviral + pegylated interferon, oral antiviral. An indigenous tool; neuropsychological and physical side effects of interferon scale (NPPSI-S), coping strategies questionnaire (CSQ) and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires were used for assessment of side effects of the treatment, coping strategies and health-related quality of life. Results revealed patients who received pegylated interferon treatment, had a high level of active distractive coping and low level of religious focused coping. Patients receiving oral antiviral plus interferon treatment had a low level of avoidance focused coping. Patients getting injection-free treatment had a high level of avoidance, and religious focused coping. This study concluded that the use of oral injection-free regimes for the treatment of HCV results in better-coping strategies to deal with treatment-related side effects and have a better quality of life as compared to injection regimes.