Social support and health-related quality of life among hepatitis C patients in Pahang, Malaysia

• Main Authors: Zainulabid, Ummu Afeera, Md Jalil, Muhammad Ateeq, Jaafar, Khairul Azhar, Mohd Ibrahim, Mohamad Shafiq, M Yunus, Raudah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2021
• Subjects: RC Internal medicine; RC803 Specialties of Internal Medicine-Diseases of The Digestive System. Gastroenterology
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/92606/1/92606_Social%20support%20and%20health-related%20quality%20of%20life%20among%20hepatitis%20C%20patients.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/92606/; https://doi.org/10.1111/jgh.15607
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Background and Aim: 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—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 shortform survey (SF-36v2). Results: We found a significant positive correlation between social support and physical (95% confidence interval [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 multidisciplinary approach.