Transcript Exploring the knowledge, feelings and beliefs of people

Exploring the knowledge, feelings
and beliefs of people living with HCV
and the professionals who support
them: Stigma and comparisons with
Cancer.
Heather Mack
Applied Social Science
Lancaster University
My research
• Exploration of the knowledge, feelings and beliefs
of people with Hep C and the people working in
the field.
• The perspective of both parties is required in
order to make progress in the field of Hepatitis C
(Butt et al., 2008)
• RQ: The extent to which people with HCV and the
professionals working with them experience
stigma/discrimination.
• Interviews with people with HCV Interviews
with professionals.
Introduction
• Stigma (Goffman, 1963)
• Major issue for people with HCV ( see Hopwood
and Southgate,2003)
• Impacts on perceptions of self (Fraser and
Treloar, 2006)
• Relationships with family and friends (Zickmund,
2003)
• Accessing support/health services
(Hopwood and Treloar, 2006)
The impact of treatment
• ‘ I mean, I think the treatment for Hep C and
the side effects are as bad as Cancer (cut).
knowing people who have had Cancer
treatment which is horrendous, I would say
that Hep C treatment is equally as horrendous
actually. It’s relentless’ (Morgan).
Support needs
• HM: So what kind of things are in place for people with
Cancer that you think need to be in place for people with
Hep C?
• Morgan: Well, I think something like the Macmillan nurses
(cut) would be fantastic for people with Hep C. (cut) They
come along help you fill out all the forms and you can ring
them when the..and they deal with all these people when
you know, your head’s all over the place you can barely
focus and you just, I mean, especially at the beginning
which is when all this is taking place I was just lying on the
couch looking out the window! That was all I could do the
first couple of months and yet you’re having to deal with all
this really stressful stuff.’
‘passing’ to receive ‘dignity and
respect’
• ‘If we were Cancer patients I don’t think we’d
have much of a problem would we?(cut) If I go
in there and say I’m on chemotherapy (cut) I
get them (results) so quickly. I tell people to
use that word. ‘I’m on chemotherapy’ and the
level of care and understanding they get
changes up a gear and they’re treated with a
bit of respect and dignity and care.’
(JB)
‘Passing’ and relying on assumption
• For people who weren’t that close and I didn’t need to
explain to I would just say ‘ I have 6 months of chemo
lined up’ and leave it at that. ‘ (Blue)
• ‘ I had to tell the playgroup something (cut) the school
asked me what was going on so I told them I was
having a course of chemotherapy - which it is. So they
instantly think I’ve got Cancer and they feel sorry for
me and if they find out I haven’t got Cancer, they’re
gonna think I’ve lied and I haven’t - but everyone
associates chemo with Cancer.’ (Kerry).
Implications for practice
• Maintenance of prejudice/hierarchy of
disease.
• Greater recognition of the impact of
treatment.
• Need for increased social care
support/recognition of the peer led support
• Financial support
• Shaped research – DWP/ Social workers
Contact Details
Heather Mack
Applied Social Science
Bowland North
Lancaster University
LA1 4YW
T: 01524 594118
E: [email protected]