Social support and health-related quality of life among Hepatitis C

• Main Authors: Zainulabid, Ummu Afeera, Md Jalil, Muhammad Ateeq, Jaafar, Khairul Azhar, M I, Mohamad Shafiq, M Yunus, Raudah
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: RC Internal medicine; RC111 Infectious and Parasitic Diseases; RC803 Specialties of Internal Medicine-Diseases of The Digestive System. Gastroenterology
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/91551/1/91551_Social%20support%20and%20health-related%20quality.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/91551/2/91551_Social%20support%20and%20health-related%20quality_poster.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/91551/3/91551_Social%20support%20and%20health-related%20quality_acceptance%20abstract.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/91551/
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Background: Hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver disease worldwide. Health impacts of hepatitis C are not limited to physical morbidity but include psychosocial dimensions such as quality of life (QOL), depression, anxiety, and stigmatization. In Malaysia, modifiable factors that can improve QOL among hepatitis C patients have not been adequately studied. Our study aims to test the association between social support and QOL among hepatitis C patients. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional design, 195 hepatitis C patients who attended Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) – the main public tertiary hospital in Pahang – were recruited through convenience sampling. Social support was assessed using the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI) while Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) was measured by 36-item short-form survey (SF-36v2). Results: We found a significant positive correlation between social support and physical (95% CI: 0.132, 0.406; p<0.05) and mental (95% CI: 0.224, 0.490; p<0.05) dimension of HRQOL. Patients with good social support scores were more likely to have better HRQOL. Conclusion: There is association between social support and HRQOL among our respondents. Supportive family and friends can enhance the physical, emotional, and social function of a hepatitis C patient. Health care providers should consider the role of social support to improve hepatitis C management, through a multi-disciplinary approach.