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By Lauri Gray Eaton Special to DG News
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Date Posted: Sat, January 19 2002, 15:10:20 PST
In reply to:
Anna Lok, MD Thomas Shehab MD Mauricio Orrego, M.D. UMich
's message, "Doctors/Patients Not Following Through on Hepatitis C Screening" on Mon, July 30 2001, 8:16:52 PDT
Title: AASLD: Communicative Conflict With Primary Physicians Prominent Among Patients with Hepatitis C
"AASLD: Communicative Conflict With Primary Physicians Prominent Among Patients with Hepatitis C"
By Lauri Gray Eaton
Special to DG News
DALLAS, TX -- November 13, 2001 -- "Patients with hepatitis C infection face difficulties in many facets of their lives, including interaction with healthcare providers," reported a University of Iowa team of investigators.
The team presented findings from a study in a poster presentation yesterday (Nov. 12) at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), in Dallas, Texas.
In a study titled "He Told Me I Would Die and that I Should Just Go Away", the investigators reported on the experience of 278 randomly selected patients with known hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, attending the Liver Clinic of the University of Iowa.
The team interviewed participants about mood, relationships with others and their experiences with healthcare providers.
"Typically, participants encountered these problems when dealing with their primary care providers, prior to referral to the University of Iowa Liver Clinic," reported lead author Susan Zickmund, PhD, a research assistant in the department of internal medicine.
The chief difficulty patients experienced with their doctors derived from a self-described breakdown in communication (47 percent), characterized by a negative attitude on the part of the physician toward the patient, a lack of understanding about the patient's feelings and a lack of sensitivity about the social issues associated with the HCV diagnosis.
A second major reason patients gave for having difficulties with their physician was a perception of the physician's incompetence or lack of information when it came to the HCV diagnosis (33 percent).
Thirdly, 11 percent of the patients stated that "they felt openly stigmatized by their physicians," the team reported.
"The patients who had communicative problems with their physicians were more likely to experience other stressors, including problems with coping and with their social support network," the researchers stated. "These findings highlight the importance of educational efforts to inform both the general public and healthcare providers of the often unique needs of patients with HCV infection."
The report concluded: "Physicians and others caring for these individuals need to be aware of the psychosocial aspect of their disease. Support groups or other forums may allow patients to voice and share their experience, which may improve their ability to cope with this disease."
"People who have liver disease often suffer at the hand of those who are very well-meaning," commented AASLD President Eugene R. Schiff, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the division of hepatology and director of the Center for Liver Diseases at the University of Miami School of Medicine, in Miami, Florida.
Liver disease such as hepatitis C, once quite difficult to treat, may still carry an undeserved stigma in the primary care community, he said. However with recent advances in the treatment of hepatitis, many of which were outlined at this year's meeting, he said, "I tell patients to be realistic, but be optimistic."
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