Support for patients with hepatitis C: an exploratory qualitative study ofmedical specialists' perceptions

Objective: To explore the range of meanings about the role of support for p atients with hepatitis C by examining medical specialists' perceptions. Method: The study employed a qualitative, open-ended interview design and w as conducted in four major teaching hospitals in Adelaide, South Australia. Eight participants (three infectious disease physicians, four gastroentero logists, one hepatologist), selected through purposive sampling, were inter viewed about general patient support, their role in support provision, the role of non-medical support and their reasons for not using support service s. Results: Main themes included a focus on support as information provision a nd that patient education is best carried out by a medical specialist. The use of support services was defined as the patient's decision. Participants identified four key periods when patients would benefit from support; duri ng diagnosis, failure to meet treatment criteria, during interferon treatme nt and following treatment failure. Conclusions: It was concluded that while barriers exist to the establishmen t of partnerships between specialists and other support services, this stud y has identified clear points at which future partnerships could be establi shed. Implications: A partnership approach to developing support for patients wit h hepatitis C offers a systematic framework to facilitate the participation of health professionals and the community in an important area of public h ealth.