title: Psychosocial correlates of alcohol use and reduction for individuals with hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are advised to refrain from alcohol consumption. A questionnaire was developed to measure concepts associated with alcohol use for individuals with HCV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with HCV (N = 527) completed a telephone survey. Eligible respondents had screened negative for current abuse/dependence disorders (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT] ≤ 10). Measures of personality, self-efficacy, knowledge, readiness, coping styles, stigma, and symptoms were examined for associations with alcohol use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factor analysis supported a measurement structure of 105 items in 35 subdomains. A total of 26 subdomains had significant bivariate associations with alcohol use. Higher self-efficacy for resisting drinking in social situations was associated with lower alcohol use (r = -.68, p < .001), as was knowledge of alcohol and HCV (r = -.27, p < .001). Although agreeableness and marital status are typically associated with lower current drinking in samples of those with alcohol use problems, in our study agreeableness (β = .13, p < .01) and marital status (β = .08, p < .05) were modestly associated with higher current drinking. The final multivariate R² was .55.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pattern of associations suggests the importance of the social aspects of drinking for drinking decisions. Existing brief interventions will need to be tailored to a contextualized psychosocial model for medical patients with HCV and AUDIT scores ≤ 10 to optimize effectiveness. Such future interventions should emphasize the potential medical hazards of drinking for persons with HCV, the maintenance of social relationships in the absence of alcohol use, and strategies for building confidence for resisting drinking in specific situations.
authors: Center for Health Care Research and Policy, Case Western Reserve University and MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44109-1998, USA. Adam.Perzynski@case.edu
authors: Adam T
authors: AT
authors: Perzynski
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: McCormick
authors: Noah J
authors: NJ
authors: Webster
authors: Carol E
authors: CE
authors: Blixen
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Kanuch
authors: Charles L
authors: CL
authors: Thomas
authors: Kevin D
authors: KD
authors: Mullen
authors: Neal V
authors: NV
authors: Dawson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health