Effect of healthcare insurance policy on the quality of life of chronic hepatitis C patients receiving interferon α-2a plus ribavirin therapy

Liu,Jing; Lin,Chao-Shuang; Gan,Wei-Qiang; Zheng,Yu-Bao; Wu,Zhe-Bin; Zhao,Zhi-Xin; Gao,Zhi-Liang

doi:10.3892/etm.2012.519

June 2012 Volume 3 Issue 6

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June 2012 Volume 3 Issue 6

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Article

Effect of healthcare insurance policy on the quality of life of chronic hepatitis C patients receiving interferon α-2a plus ribavirin therapy

Authors:
- Jing Liu
- Chao-Shuang Lin
- Wei-Qiang Gan
- Yu-Bao Zheng
- Zhe-Bin Wu
- Zhi-Xin Zhao
- Zhi-Liang Gao
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Department of Infectious Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, P.R. China
Pages: 1062-1066
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Published online on: March 16, 2012

https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2012.519
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pegylated interferon α-2a plus ribavirin therapy on the quality of life (QOL) of chronic hepatitis C patients when this treatment was paid for by healthcare insurance. The QOL questionnaire (GQOLI-74) was used to assess patient QOL. A total of 42 cases received 1-year pegylated interferon α-2a plus ribavirin treatment paid for by Guangzhou Medical Insurance (group A), and 30 cases received treatment self-subsidized by the patients themselves (group B). Another 30 patients did not receive interferon therapy (group C). All groups completed the evaluation twice; prior to interferon treatment (T0) and at the end of treatment (T1). There was no statistically significant difference among the three groups (P>0.05). At T1, patients in group A had higher scores for each questionnaire dimension and a higher total score than those of group C (P<0.05). Patients in group B also had higher scores than those of group C (P<0.05), except for material well-being (P=0.305). Compared with group B, patients in group A had higher scores for mental function, material well-being and a higher total score (P<0.05). Patients in group A had higher scores for each dimension and a higher total score at T1 than at T0 (P<0.05), while patients in group B had higher scores for physical function, social function and a higher total score at T1 than at T0 (P<0.05). Pegylated interferon α-2a plus ribavirin treatment is able to improve the QOL of chronic hepatitis C patients. Patients whose treatment was financed by medical insurance exhibited increased improvement in QOL compared to those who paid for their own treatment.

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Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Effect of healthcare insurance policy on the quality of life of chronic hepatitis C patients receiving interferon α-2a plus ribavirin therapy

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