BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors.MethodsThis multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant.ResultsFour thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided.ConclusionsThe HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the reasons for not being able to access treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) for patients who are followed up without treatment and to serve as a resource for future studies to be conducted to find solutions. Materials and Methods: The study was planned as a multi-center observational study. Universities, training and research hospitals, and public hospitals from different regions, most of which are members of the Association to Combat Viral Hepatitis-Academic Camp, participated in the study. The reasons for untreated follow-up of CHC patients followed up without treatment were investigated. Patients who were hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA negative, who had sustained viral response, and who had been receiving treatment were excluded from the study. Results: Two hundred and ninety patients diagnosed with CHC and followed up without treatment were reviewed in detail. The median age was 58 (23-87) years, the number of female patients was 157 (54%); 241 patients were genotype 1 (83%), 12 patients were genotype 2, 3 and 4 (4%), 37 patients were of unidentified genotypes (13%); 174 patients (60%) were treatment-naïve; and 14 patients (12%) out of the Amaç: Bu çalışmada, tedavisiz izlenen kronik hepatit C (KHC) hastalarının, tedavisiz kalma nedenlerinin ortaya konması ve ileriye dönük çözüm önerilerinin oluşturulması amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışma çok merkezli, gözlemsel çalışma olarak planlandı. Viral Hepatitle Savaşım Derneği-Akademik Kamp üyesi olan merkezlerin çoğunluğunu oluşturduğu farklı bölgelerden üniversite, eğitim araştırma ve devlet hastaneleri çalışmaya katıldı. Tedavisiz izlenen KHC hastalarının tedavisiz izlem nedenleri irdelendi. Hepatit C virüsü (HCV) RNA negatif olan, kalıcı viral yanıtı bulunan ve tedavi almakta olan hastalar çalışma dışı bırakıldı. Bulgular: KHC tanısı olup tedavisiz izlenen 290 hasta ayrıntılı olarak incelendi. Ortanca yaş 58 (23-87), kadın sayısı 157 (%54); 241 hasta genotip 1 (%83), 12 hasta genotip 2, 3 ve 4 (%4), genotipi belirtilmeyen 37 (%13); 174 hasta (%60) naiv; tedavi deneyimlilerden 14'ü (%12) kısmi yanıtlı, 41'i (%36) yanıtsız, 58'i (%51) relapser idi.

Purpose This paper aims to determine the knowledge and attitudes of the physicians regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), to emphasize that these patients exist and they will exist in the future and to raise awareness so as to prevent that their rights to treatment are revoked. Design/methodology/approach The survey was conducted via a link sent through an online system. Random physicians from 81 cities of the country were invited to the survey. The survey has 41 questions regarding knowledge and attitudes in total, including epidemiological information such as age, gender and title. Findings A total of 3,107 physicians has voluntarily participated in the study. In total, 2,195 (70.7%) are internal physicians and 912 (29.3%) are surgical physicians among the participant physicians. In total, 1,452 (46.7%) of the participants are specialist physicians, 608 (19.6%) of the participants are practising physician and the rest of it is physician assistants, academicians and dentists, respectively. Originality/value In this study, it has been found out that the physicians have a lack of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and they adopt a discriminatory attitude towards HIV-positive persons. HIV-positive patients who are exposed to discrimination and scared of being uncovered refrain from applying to hospitals for treatment, which puts public health into jeopardy due to the high viral load and these patients are faced with difficulties in coping with both medical and emotional load of the disease.

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