Concept of Health in Opinions of Patients Diagnosed with Hepatitis C

• Published in: American journal of health behavior Vol. 46; no. 6; p. 643
• Main Author: Sierpińska, Lidia Elżbieta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 30.12.2022
• Subjects: Educational Status; Emotions; Female; Health Status; Hepatitis C; Humans; Male; Marital Status
• ISSN: 1945-7359
• DOI: 10.5993/AJHB.46.6.7

The aim of this study was assessment of the value of health in opinions of patients with chronic hepatitis C. The study was conducted among 220 patients infected with HCV by the diagnostic survey method using the Health Criteria List (LHC) and the proprietary questionnaire. Patients infected with HCV evaluated their health status mainly as mediocre - 50.9%. Older respondents significantly more rarely defined being healthy as "being employed, having various interests," and "feeling well." For males, health meant "eating properly," whereas for females - it was "experiencing no physical complaints." Respondents who had higher education understood health mainly as "having skills of solving own problems." Those married significantly more often mentioned "experiencing no physical complaints." Rural inhabitants significantly more frequently considered that being healthy meant "being able to associate well with others," compared to urban inhabitants. Valuation of health by patients infected with HCV depends on age, gender, level of education, place of residence, marital status, and duration of the disease. Arrangement according to rank allowed establishing what 'being healthy' means for patients with hepatitis C, and to what extent health is identified with goal, state, feature, and process.