Patients' Experiences of Hepatitis C and its Treatment v.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Hepatitis C and its Treatment: Qualitative Insights into the Contemporary Lived Experience
IRAS ID
167460
Contact name
David Whiteley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Edinburgh Napier University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 27 days
Research summary
The quality of life for individuals with hepatitis C has been a prevailing focus of research for many years, and is widely reported in both the quantitative and qualitative literature. Hepatitis C is known to detrimentally impact on an infected individual’s quality of life, through a combination of biological, psychological and social factors. The large body of published research into this area must increasingly be viewed through an historical lens however, as hepatitis C treatment has evolved dramatically since 2011. New drug therapies are rapidly being licensed and approved, which are considerably improving efficacy rates of treatment, whilst significantly reducing both treatment length and associated side-effects. Whilst quantitative investigation into quality of life largely keeps apace with these developments, there is a dearth of qualitative research into not just the daily lived experience of these new improved therapies, but whether their arrival has altered perceptions of the condition itself amongst those infected. Is the lived experience of hepatitis C evolving in line with the advances in its treatment? This study aims to address this evidence gap through in-depth qualitative interviews with individuals infected with hepatitis C. Findings could inform both clinical teams in the provision of person-centred care, and policy makers due to the implications for hepatitis C testing and treatment uptake.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
15/SS/0010
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion