The lived experience of treatment for hepatitis C.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe male patients' experiences of undergoing and completing treatment for the hepatitis C virus. A qualitative, descriptive, and phenomenological methodology was used. Eight male patients diagnosed with the hepatitis C virus, aged 41-60 years and enrolled in a health maintenance organization, were interviewed in their private residences in a community setting. In depth, semistructured, tape-recorded, and transcribed interviews were analyzed by using theme coding. Six themes emerged that described the lived experience of male patients after undergoing treatment for the hepatitis C virus: acquisition of the disease, the diagnosis, the treatment decision making, the "horror stories" regarding treatment, what helped, and feelings now.Patients who are diagnosed with the hepatitis C virus and undergo treatment face a difficult therapy regimen. All participants knew how they acquired the disease and had no sense of apology for how they attracted it. Their only goal was to achieve viral clearance of this disease. Treatment was their option. Nurses play a key role in the management of treatment for patients undergoing therapy for hepatitis C. The management of the adverse effects of therapy has a great impact on patients' quality of life and compliance with the therapy. Nurses are able to help patients by recognizing and managing the adverse effects of this therapy.