Quality of life and its influencing factors among chronic hepatitis B patients in Yantai municipality

ObjectiveTo examine the quality of life (QoL) and its associated factors among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) viral infection in Yantai municipality of Shandong province and to provide references for implementing corresponding interventions.MethodsUsing random cluster sampling,we recruited 230 patients seeking medication for CHB at an infectious disease hospital and three general hospitals in Yantai city; then we carried out a face-to-face survey with a self-designed general questionnarie and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) between January 2013 and January 2016.ResultsThe overall QoL of the participants was relatively poor,with the average score of 58.64±11.23.Among the 8 dimensions of QoL of the participants,bodily pain and social functioning were good,with the average scores of 78.24±11.05 and 75.33±9.78; the general health,physical function,and role emotional were within normal level,with the average scores of 65.44±12.63,69.39±11.82,and 63.75±12.42; and role physical,mental health,and vitality were poor,with the average scores of 45.03±9.33,59.87±10.56,and 58.97±13.65,respectively.The results of multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that the participants at older age,with lower annual per capita income,with longer course of the disease,and complicated with other chronic diseases were more likely to have low score of QoL.ConclusionThe overall quality of life of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection is relatively low and mainly influenced by age,annual per capita income,disease course and whether with other chronic diseases.