The role of the community nurse in hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment.
Hepatitis C is a common cause of liver disease and many infected individuals remain undiagnosed. Patients may be asymptomatic or have non-specific symptoms, and community nurses can help to identify those at risk and arrange testing. Community nurses can also encourage and support infected individuals to attend specialist hospital clinics for assessment and treatment by giving clear and accurate information about infection and therapy, including common side-effects. Treatment lasts for 6-12 months and patients require regular monitoring with good support. This paper provides an overview of the diagnosis and management of hepatitis C and aims to educate community nurses about this viral infection.
Poll
Ray
R
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust. ray.poll@sth.nhs.uk
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000451:nursing; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b