Assessment of Self-Efficacy and Self-Care Behaviors among Patients with Hepatitis C Virus

Background: Hepatitis C Virus is a systemic infection which has many consequences on patients‟ life because of its chronic nature. Patient involvement in doing self-care is crucial for patients with chronic Hepatitis C in order to change their behaviors towards a healthy life style. The aim of this study: was to assess self-efficacy and self-care behaviors among patients with Hepatitis C Virus. Study design: a descriptive exploratory design was used. Setting: Hepatic outpatient clinic at Ain Shams University hospitals in Cairo– Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample of 200 adult patients from both sex and free from other chronic disease. Data collection
Tools: I-Demographic data assessment questionnaire for patients with Hepatitis C Virus, II-Clinical data assessment tool for patients with Hepatitis C Virus III-Knowledge assessment questionnaire for patients with Hepatitis C Virus IV-Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Self-Efficacy (HCV-TSE).V-Hepatitis C Virus Self-Care Behavioral Scale (HCV-SCB) Results: The present study revealed that more than three quarter of the studied patients had unsatisfactory level of knowledge about HCV, near three quarter of the studied patients had moderate level of self-efficacy and more than three quarter of the studied patients had fair self-care behaviors .There was highly statistically significant correlation between total self- efficacy and total dimensions of self-care behavior except psychological self -care-behavior Conclusion: The majority of the studied patients had unsatisfactory level of total knowledge about Hepatitis C Virus, moderate level of self-efficacy and have fair level of self-care behavior with positive correlation between them Recommendations: Promotion and enhancement of the self-care modalities to HCV patients; through a strict written illustrated instruction prepared by specialists about HCV and its associated self-care behaviors