title: Evaluation of health care needs and patient satisfaction among hepatitis C patients treated at a hospital-based, viral hepatitis clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define self-reported hepatitis C knowledge, health care needs, and patient satisfaction in a representative cohort of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected adults treated at a university hospital-based viral hepatitis clinic in Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire package evaluating HCV knowledge, health care needs, and patient satisfaction was administered to 111 consecutive consenting HCV patients during their first and 10-month follow-up HCV clinic visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At their first HCV clinic visit, 52% of patients rated their current HCV knowledge as "fair" or "poor". Patients identified HCV education, quality medical care, medication coverage, and psychological counselling as important HCV health care needs. Health care satisfaction outcome data at 10-month follow-up indicated that patients felt significantly better informed, more satisfied, and more actively involved in their HCV health care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A bio-psychosocial framework in which medical, psychological, educational, and social issues are addressed is desirable for optimal HCV health care.
authors.affiliation: Viral Hepatitis Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario. lbalfour@ottawahospital.on.ca
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balfour
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Giorgio A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tasca
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowal
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires