Impact of Interactive Digital-Based Hepatitis C Education on Self-Management and Quality of Life of Damanhour University Students Having Hepatitis C.

Abstract

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health crisis and currently is the most frequent cause of liver related morbidity and mortality which caused 1.34 million deaths in 2015 globally. Infected individuals experience a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, functional limitations and impaired quality of life as a result of having HCV. Aim of study: is to assess the impact of Interactive Digital-Based Hepatitis C Education on Self-Management and Quality of Life of Damanhour University Students Having Hepatitis C. Hypothesis: University students having Hepatitis C who engage in interactive digital-Based Hepatitis C education demonstrate greater improvement in Self-Management and quality of life than those who are not. Material and Methods: Quasi-experimental pre/post–test research design. Settings: The study was carried out in the medical health insurance clinic affiliated to Damanhour University. Subjects: the total sample was 36 students having Hepatitis C. Tools: Data was collected through using students’ knowledge about HCV Structured Questionnaire Sheet, Generic health-Related Quality Of Life Scale, Disease-Specific Health-Related Quality Of Life questionnaire, Hepatitis C Self-Management Profile Scale and Satisfaction with Interactive Digital-Based Hepatitis C educational program scale. Results: More than half of the intervention group (55.6%) aged more than 20 years with a mean age of 20.9±2.01 years, and more than one third of the control group (38.9%) with a mean age of 19.4±2.17 years. Above two thirds of the intervention and control groups, (66.7%, and 50.0% respectively) were males. Social networks and Websites, reported as the main source of information about hepatitis C by less than half of the intervention group (44.4%), and more than two thirds of the control group (66.7%). Only 11.1% of the intervention group had good knowledge level at pre program, with mean score of 7.08±3.01 compared to less than two thirds of them (61.1%) in post program. Significant differences was observed between intervention group at pre and 3 months post program implementation (t1=4.25, P=0.002). Interactive Digital-Based Education showed a significant impact on the intervention group's practices in different areas of Hepatitis C self-management. It is evident that, statistical significant correlation was found between intervention group's satisfaction with the program and total score of self-management practices and quality of life in post program. Conclusion and Recommendations: Interactive Digital-Based Education on Self- Management of Hepatitis C had positive impact on HCV outcomes including improvement in Hepatitis C knowledge, self-management practices and quality of life. In addition, it plays a significant role in improving Hepatitis C control, and motivates the students to adopt healthy lifestyle. The overall results revealed that, university students’ satisfaction with Interactive Digital-Based Hepatitis C educational program was high. Therefore, use interactive technology to disseminate hepatitis C education messages to young people, including WhatsApp, Web Based education, etc. Also, Develop University HCV Online platform for young people having Hepatitis C who need to receive age-appropriate Hepatitis C education.

Keywords: Interactive Digital-Based education, Self-management, Hepatitis C, Health-Related Quality Of Life.

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/66-02

Publication date:September 30^th 2019