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Abstract The increasing prevalence of hepatitis C virus world wide and the associated cirrhosis and mortality, treatment is an important issue which may be carried out by combination therapy of Interferon and Ribavirin, but the adverse effects with this combination therapy are not rare. This study aims to assess needs of patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving antivirus therapy (physical, Social, Psychological and Spiritual needs) and suggest a nursing guideline based on the needs of the patients with chronic hepatitis C. Descriptive and exploratory designs were utilized in this study. It was conducted at viruses’ out patient unit, in Mansoura International Hospital the sample included 100 of patients with hepatitis C both sexes. Three tools were used to collect data, tool 1- Patients’ Questionnaire interview sheet, tool II; Needs of patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving antivirus therapy and tool III; A nursing guideline sheet based on the needs of the patients with chronic hepatitis C. The results revealed that more than three-quarters of the studied sample (76%) were males with mean age 38.6years. Most of the hepatitis C patients had poor knowledge scores and need health teaching. three quarter of the patient had high need the highest needs of the total needs was for psychological needs more than four-fifths of the studied patients 82% followed by physical needs 75% followed by Spiritual needs 71%, and followed by socio-economic needs 66%, with highly significant relation between patients’ total needs and socio-demographic characteristics, their disease characteristics, and their knowledge. The present study concluded that patients with chronic hepatitis C had high needs and factors such as sex, level of education, and job status affect patients’ total needs and patients needs health education.The study recommended the application of guiding educational and cultural programmes for patients with hepatitis C to satisfy their needs should begin before treatment even starts to overcome these problems to ensure their quality of life. |