title: Assessment of Educational Needs and Quality of Life of Chronic Hepatitis Patients.
abstract: Patient education is crucial in improving the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients. At the same, understanding the concerns and needs of patients is essential in providing appropriate education. This study assessed the educational needs and HRQOL experienced by chronic hepatitis patients.
  
  
  
  We developed structured questionnaires with satisfactory validity and reliability to assess the educational needs of patients. HROQL was measured using a generic Short Form 36 (SF-36) and a liver disease-specific Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ). Descriptive statistic measures and Pearson's correlation analysis were applied for data analysis.
  
  
  
  A total of 135 subjects were recruited from two regional teaching hospitals in Taiwan. "Disease characteristics and management" exhibited the highest mean score (3.17) among all the subscales of educational needs. In comparison with those without antiviral therapy, chronic hepatitis patients undergoing antiviral treatment scored significantly higher on all subscales of educational needs, especially on "side effects of antiviral treatment" (p < 0.010). The median range of the physical component summary score was 45.94, the mental component summary score was 49.37, and the mean CLDQ was 5.70. Several domains of educational needs were significantly inversely correlated with the CLDQ and SF-36 subscales.
  
  
  
  Education is highly required by chronic hepatitis patients, especially those receiving antiviral therapy and patients with poor HRQOL. These findings can serve as a useful reference for nursing personnel who perform needs assessment to develop individual nursing instruction and thereby improve the quality of care for chronic hepatitis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, No.91, Hsueh-Shih Road, 40402, Taichung, Taiwan.|Department of Healthcare Administration, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, No. 666, Buzih Road, Beitun District, Taichung, 40601, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Chuan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Welfare Nantou Hospital, No. 478 Fuxing Rd., Nantou City, 540 Nantou County, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Lee's Medical Corporation, No. 2 Bade St., Taichung, 43748, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 1650, Taiwan Boulevard Sec. 4, 40705, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sheng-Shun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, No.91, Hsueh-Shih Road, 40402, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, No. 666, Buzih Road, Beitun District, Taichung City, 40601, Taiwan. sjchang@ctust.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Shu-Chuan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Chronic hepatitis; Educational needs assessment; Quality of life