1. Lay Management of Chronic Disease: A Qualitative Study of Living with Hepatitis C Infection.
- Author
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Stoller, Eleanor Palo, Webster, Noah J., Blixen, Carol E., McCormick, Richard A., Perzynski, Adam T., Kanuch, Stephanie W., and Dawson, Neal V.
- Subjects
CHRONIC diseases ,HEPATITIS C ,HEALTH self-care ,HEALTH behavior ,LAY analysis (Psychoanalysis) ,MEDICAL care research - Abstract
Objectives: To examine management strategies and goals reported by people diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: We analyzed data from semistructured interviews (N=42) and from electronic sources [illness narratives (N=79) and Internet threaded discussions (N=264)]. Line-by-line coding, comparisons, and team discussions generated catalogs of lay management strategies and goals. We analyzed code-based files to identify informants' selection of specific strategies for each goal. Results: We classified lay management strategies into 3 categories: medical self-care, behavior change, and coping. These strategies were used selectively In addressing multiple goals, categorized as fighting the virus, strengthening the body, and managing consequences. Conclusions: Results underscore the diversity of strategies for living with a disease characterized by uncertain prognosis and variable expression of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
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