title: Interferon and the fear of needles: a case report.
abstract: The treatment of viral hepatitis C infection uses a combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Psychological preparation of the patient is vital to ensure adherence to the treatment. In our center, the nurse prepares this treatment according to an established educative protocol; however, some patients have special needs that require individualized attention. One such situation observed by the nurse is that the patients frequently admit to the fear of needle puncture (the peginterferon treatment is administered subcutaneously) and are unable to inject themselves. We describe a representative case and the care plan to manage the patient's fear so that the patient acquires confidence in his or her ability to self-inject. This facilitates autonomy and coresponsibility for the treatment, and the nurse can develop care approaches to combat the patient's fear of needles.
authors: Day-Care Hospital of Digestive Diseases Department, Corporació Sanitaria Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain. mlopez@tauli.cat
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: López
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Moreno
authors: Angelina
authors: A
authors: Dosal
authors: Marta Maria
authors: MM
authors: Pujol
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Vergara
authors: Montserrat
authors: M
authors: Gil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009339:Needles; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b