Date of Award

2013-12-03

Degree Name

PhD Nursing

Dissertation Committee

Cynthia D. Connelly, PhD, RN, FAAN (Chairperson); Jane M. Georges, PhD, RN; Joseph F. Burkard, DNSc, CRNA

Keywords

Alaska Natives, American Indians, Hepatitis C, mental health, nursing, quality of life, Southwest

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C Virus is considered to be a global public health threat because seventy-five percent of infected persons have no symptoms and are unaware of their infection. It is significant to note that AI/ANs commonly contend with issues that prevent them from receiving or seeking medical care. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to: (a) Characterize the level of depression, alcohol consumption, stigma, and quality of life; (b) Examine the relationship among the variables of age, gender, residing on an AI/AN reservation, current partner status, depression, alcohol consumption, and stigma with quality of life in a sample of AI/ANs living with HCV; and (c) Identify factors that explain the greatest amount of variance in the quality of life. Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design with purposive sampling of 101 AI/AN adults with HCV from the Southwestern U.S. was implemented. Method: Instruments used to measure the influence of variables include the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, HCV Stigma Scale, and MOS SF-12v2 Quality of Life questionnaire. Results: Correlational analysis indicated a statistically significant inverse relationship between PCS and CES-D (r = -.438, p = .000); statistically significant positive relationship between MCS and Age (r = .205, p = .04); statistically significant inverse relationship between MCS and CES-D (r = -.726, p = .000); statistically significant positive relationship between CES-D and AUDIT (r = .400, p = .000); CES-D and Stigma (r = .485, p = .000). Regression analysis indicated the overall models significantly predicts QOL - PCS and CES-D significantly contributed to the model; QOL - MCS and CES-D and AUDIT significantly contributed to the model. Implications: The identification of factors that influence QOL in HCV patients has the potential to give direction to the development of nursing interventions or culturally based care that may improve life quality in AI/AN persons living with HCV. This study will help to determine the level of depression, alcohol consumption, stigma, and QOL among AI/AN persons living with HCV. These findings have important implications for HCV education, treatment, AI/AN health care policy and practice improvements.

Document Type

Dissertation: Open Access

Department

Nursing

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

COinS