title: Patient perspectives on hepatitis C and its treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Much of the research to date on barriers to treatment for patients with hepatitis C has approached the problem from either the perspective of the medical provider or the healthcare system.
  
  
  METHODS
  To better understand these barriers from the patients' perspectives, nine exploratory focus groups of patients with hepatitis C (N=48) were conducted in 2008 and 2009, using a hybrid qualitative analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight content categories emerged. Treatment-related issues, including barriers to care, were most emphasized, representing nearly one-half of the entire content. Need for accurate disease-related information was also extensively discussed. Social factors were important, including considerable focus on stigma. Participants described coping abilities including faith and perseverance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Areas of concern expressed in these focus groups represent underexplored areas that may warrant additional attention or areas for intervention and investigation, such as exploring differences between perceptions of patients and providers regarding the hepatitis C treatment process and addressing barriers to care.
authors.affiliation: aThe VA North Texas Health Care System Departments of bPsychiatry cSurgery, Division of Emergency Medicine dDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center eThe University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Dallas, Texas fThe University of Alabama School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, Alabama gDepartment of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Carol S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Devereaux
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Pollio
authors.forename: Barry A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Mamta K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jain
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D032882:Comprehension; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D013240:Stereotyping; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents