effect of continuous-educational program in interferon therapy on quality of life in patients suffering from Hepatitis B and C

ABSTRACT

The most effective therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C and B is combined therapy with interferon. These treatments, however, cause varying degrees of adverse effects; which may negatively affect the patients' vitality, social activity, and ability to work. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of an educational program about using interferon, properly, self-management of side effects and follow up on the quality of life of the patients with hepatitis B and C. This semi-experimental study was performed on patients with chronic hepatitis B and C subjected to interferon therapy, in Tehran hepatitis center. Sixty patients selected by available sampling method were divided randomly into two equal groups of control and case. Data was gathered using demographic information questionnaire [DIQ] and the specific chronic liver disease questionnaire [CLDQ]. The educational program consisted of four 45-minute sessions. Then the patients were followed up for 28 weeks. Quality of life of the patients was assessed before and 28 weeks after the educational program and interferon therapy. Quality of life of the two groups was compared using Chi- Square. Manwitny and Wilkakson tests. There was no statistically significant difference in demographic characteristics between the two groups. The quality of life of the case group was increased [p<0.001] but did not change in the control group. After 28 weeks, all the checked aspects of the life, except activity, were significantly different between the two groups. Also, the rate of treatment stopping in the control group was 4 times more than that in the control one. The results showed that educational programs improve the quality of life of the interferon-therapy patients