DefinePK

Research Objective

To examine the psychological distress and marital adjustment in spouses of Hepatitis C patients, and to investigate the effect of illness stage, gender, and socioeconomic status on these factors.

Methodology

A cross-sectional quantitative research design was employed. The study included 200 spouses (100 males, 100 females) of Hepatitis C patients from Ayub Medical Complex and Combined Military Hospital in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Participants were primary caregivers who were legally married to the patient, resided with them, and were actively involved in their care. Demographic variables (gender, socioeconomic status) and patient's disease stage (acute/chronic) were recorded. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) were used to measure psychological distress and marital adjustment, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS, calculating means, standard deviations, Pearson correlations, and t-tests.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD;
    A["Recruit Spouses of HCV Patients"] --> B["Collect Demographic & Disease Stage Data"];
    B --> C["Administer K10 & DAS Scales"];
    C --> D["Analyze Data using SPSS"];
    D --> E["Interpret Results"];
    E --> F["Draw Conclusions & Implications"];                    

Discussion

The study highlights the significant psychological and relational challenges faced by spouses of Hepatitis C patients. The findings underscore that increased psychological distress in caregivers is linked to diminished marital satisfaction, cohesion, and consensus. Gender and socioeconomic status play crucial roles, with female and lower socioeconomic status caregivers experiencing greater distress. The stage of the illness also impacts marital dynamics, with chronic stages posing greater challenges. The discussion emphasizes the need for targeted psychological and social support interventions to enhance the well-being of caregivers and strengthen marital resilience.

Key Findings

- A strong negative correlation was found between psychological distress and marital adjustment (r = -.539, p < .01).
- Higher psychological distress was associated with lower marital satisfaction, consensus, and cohesion.
- Female spouses and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds reported higher levels of psychological distress, leading to greater distress on marital adjustment.
- Spouses of patients with advanced stage Hepatitis C exhibited worse difficulty in maintaining marital cohesiveness and satisfaction.
- Dyadic consensus was significantly higher among spouses of patients with higher economic status and those with acute illness stages.

Conclusion

The study concludes that improving caregiver well-being is essential for fostering healthier marital dynamics among spouses of Hepatitis C patients. Interventions must consider the influence of gender, socioeconomic status, and disease stage. Healthcare providers are encouraged to offer mental health services, economic support, and marital counseling to alleviate caregiver stress and promote marital harmony.

Fact Check

- The study analyzed data from 200 spouses of Hepatitis C patients.
- The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) has 10 items, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) has 32 items.
- A strong negative correlation (r = -.539) was found between psychological distress and marital adjustment.

Mind Map