Quality of Life in Chronic Viral B Hepatitis Patients

만성(慢性) B형(型) 간염환자(肝炎患者) 삶의 질(質)

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine correlation between coping strategies to disease and quality of life in chrome viral B hepatitis patients ; to investigate difference of coping strategies to disease and quality in life between chronic viral B hepatitis patients and normal persons ; and to identify major variables related to quality in life of chronic viral B hepatitis patients. Methods: The authors used Weisman coping strategy scale for measuring coping ability and efficacies, and the questionnaire for measuring quality of life including physical, psychological, social and economical aspects and satisfaction of sexual life was made by authors based on related literatures. Data were collected through questionnaire survey over a period from Sep 15, 1994 to Nov 11, 1994. Subjects served for this study consisted of 94 chronic viral B hepatitis patients visited to department of internal medicine at one general hospital and 100 normal persons visited to one general hospital for routine check up of health. The collected data were analyzed by SAS and the statistical methods for analysis were Chisquare, t-test and multiple regression analysis. Results : 1) It was revealed that coping strategies to disease significantly correlated to individual's quality of life. 2) There was no significant difference in coping strategies to disease between chronic viral B hepatitis patients and normal persons. However, chronic viral B hepatitis patients showed the lower scroes of quality of life in physical, psychological and economical aspects. 3) The most important variables which were influenced upon quality of life were coping strategies to disease and satisfaction of sexual life. That is, the more active coping strategies to diseases and the higher satisfaction of sexual life, consequently the higher quality of life was. Especially male patient group or normal persons showed each other the higher scores of quality of life in physical and psychological area than female group or patient group. 4) No statistically significant difference in coping strategies to disease and quality of life was found between HBeAg positive group and HBeAg negative group. Conclusions : The authors suggest that chronic viral B hepatitis patients may show the lower score of quality of life than normal person. Therefore, quality of life assessment should become an integral part of all clinical area that seek to assess the effectiveness of treatment. Also, through the interdisciplinary approach, a comprehensive paradigm that can better account for the effects of chronic disease on the individual' s quality of life should be developed.