Factors for self-management activities among rural patients with chronic hepatitis B: A cross-sectional study

Aims and objectives: To assess the self-management activities among rural patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and the influence of psychosocial and demographic factors on their self-management activities.

Background: Chronic hepatitis B is a serious public health concern. Rural patients may have limited access to healthcare services. Although self-management is important for controlling chronic hepatitis B, few studies focus on the self-management activities among rural patients with chronic hepatitis B. Understanding self-management activities and related factors in this population are important to design and implement appropriate intervention strategies.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: From June-December 2017, totally 236 rural patients with chronic hepatitis B were recruited from hepatology department in two hospitals in Chongqing, China. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, Chronic Hepatitis B Self-Management Scale, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease, and Social Support Rating Scale. The study followed the STROBE checklist.

Results: Rural patients with chronic hepatitis B reported poor self-management activities for the score indexes of symptom management (57.36%), lifestyle management (54.89%), psychosocial coping (54.84%) and disease information management (53.11%) were all below 60%. Self-efficacy, objective support, subjective support, gender, education level and marital status showed significant effect on self-management activities.

Conclusion: Rural patients with chronic hepatitis B were found to perform insufficient self-management activities. Self-efficacy, social support, gender, education level and marital status were identified to influence their self-management activities.

Relevance to clinical practice: Self-management activities should be promoted among rural patients with chronic hepatitis B. The factors that were identified in this study should be addressed when developing interventions to promote the performance of self-management activities for rural patients with chronic hepatitis B.