title: Lay management of chronic disease: a qualitative study of living with hepatitis C infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine management strategies and goals reported by people diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from semistructured interviews (N = 42) and from electronic sources [illness narratives (N = 79) and Internet threaded discussions (N = 264)]. Line-by-line coding, comparisons, and team discussions generated catalogs of lay management strategies and goals. We analyzed code-based files to identify informants' selection of specific strategies for each goal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We classified lay management strategies into 3 categories: medical self-care, behavior change, and coping. These strategies were used selectively in addressing multiple goals, categorized as fighting the virus, strengthening the body, and managing consequences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results underscore the diversity of strategies for living with a disease characterized by uncertain prognosis and variable expression of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. estoller@triad.rr.com
authors.forename: Eleanor Palo
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Stoller
authors.forename: Noah J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Carol E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Blixen
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: Adam T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Perzynski
authors.forename: Stephanie W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kanuch
authors.forename: Neal V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Dawson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines