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Living with hepatitis C: a nurse's story

Jana C Saunders1

  • 1School of Nursing, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA. jana.saunders@ttuhsc.edu

Gastroenterology Nursing : the Official Journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates
|October 27, 2004
PubMed

Insights

This personal narrative explores the lived experiences of individuals with hepatitis C (HCV), a significant public health concern. It highlights the gap in current literature regarding patient perspectives during the transition from healthcare provider to patient.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Patient Experience
  • Nursing Research

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects nearly 4 million Americans, causing substantial annual mortality.
  • Projected increases in HCV-related morbidity underscore the need for comprehensive understanding.
  • Limited nursing and healthcare literature details the lived experiences of individuals with HCV.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the gap in the literature concerning the personal experiences of living with hepatitis C.
  • To describe the transition from a nurse's professional perspective to a patient's personal experience with HCV.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative personal narrative.
  • Reflective journaling.
  • Longitudinal self-observation.

Main Results:

  • The narrative details the initial phase of the author's journey with hepatitis C.
  • It captures the emotional and practical challenges of transitioning from healthcare provider to patient.

Conclusions:

  • Personal narratives offer valuable insights into the patient experience with hepatitis C.
  • Further research is needed to explore the multifaceted experiences of individuals living with HCV.

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