. 2013 May 23;13:234. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-234

Table 2.

List of factors potentially affecting HCV treatment decisions*


1	Possible future health problems you expect from not treating Hepatitis C
2	Expected effectiveness of treatment (in terms of the treatment’s typical impact or lack of impact on virus levels)
3	Expected overall side effects of treatment
4	Expected depression side effects in particular
5	Expected flu-like side effects in particular
6	Expected fatigue side effects in particular
7	Amount of time needed to finish the entire treatment
8	The need to inject one of the treatment medications with a needle
9	Having to remember to take several medications according to a schedule from the doctor
10	Possible Hepatitis C treatment alternatives not discussed by your doctor
11	Need for a liver biopsy^a
12	How Hepatitis C, the disease, has affected (or not affected) other people’s lives
13	How Hepatitis C treatment has affected other people’s lives
14	The stage of your Hepatitis C (for example, your liver status)
15	Whether or not you had Hepatitis C symptoms
16	Other health issues in addition to Hepatitis C, [for women] including pregnancy or possible pregnancy
17	Any substance abuse issues (alcohol or recreational street drugs)
18	The need for more information about Hepatitis C treatments
19	The extent of your will power when you decide to do something (such as starting a treatment)^a/ The extent of your will power when you decide to do something (such as finishing a treatment)^b
20	The effect of the condition of Hepatitis C on your ability to reach life goals
21	The effect of the condition of Hepatitis C on the lives of others, such as your family members
22	The effect treatment might have on your ability to meet work responsibilities^a/ The effect of the treatment on your ability to meet your work responsibilities^b
23	The effect treatment might have on your ability to meet family responsibilities^a/ The effect of the treatment on your ability to meet your family responsibilities^b
24	Your ability to pay for treatment
25	The effect treatment might have on your ability to earn money^a/ The effect of treatment on your ability to earn money^b
26	The stability of your housing situation
27	The emotional support you could expect from friends, family, support groups, and/or religion if you were to start treatment^a/ Emotional support from your friends, family, support groups, and/or religion^b
28	Your doctor’s advice
29	Your relationship with doctors and nurses in terms of the encouragement and knowledge they typically provide
30	Organizational help from doctors and nurses in things like managing appointments and helping with medications
31	How easy or hard it is to see doctors or nurses (for example traveling to the doctor’s office and making appointments)
32	Potential for being treated differently or judged if you were to start treatment^a/ Being treated differently or judged because of the treatment^b
33	Your ability to get information during treatment about your virus levels and how likely the treatment will work for you^a/ Information during treatment about your virus levels and how likely the treatment will work for you^b

*Study participants were asked to provide an importance rating for each factor. Naïve patients provided ratings in regards to HCV treatment initiation; unless otherwise noted, all other patients provided ratings based on the factors’ importance to treatment initiation and completion.

^aPatients rated the factor only in regards to importance to HCV treatment initiation.

^bPatients rated the factor only in regards to importance to HCV treatment completion.