Author information
1
Department of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, HB 414, 1720 2nd AVE S, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1260, USA. sims.omar@gmail.com.
2
Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, HB 414, 1720 2nd AVE S, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1260, USA. sims.omar@gmail.com.
3
Center for AIDS Research, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, HB 414, 1720 2nd AVE S, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1260, USA. sims.omar@gmail.com.
4
Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmi, HB 414, 1720 2nd AVE S, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1260, USA. sims.omar@gmail.com.
5
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
6
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
7
Department of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, HB 414, 1720 2nd AVE S, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1260, USA.
8
Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, HB 414, 1720 2nd AVE S, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1260, USA.
9
Center for AIDS Research, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, HB 414, 1720 2nd AVE S, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1260, USA.
10
The Altshuler Center for Education and Research, Metrocare Services, Dallas, TX, USA.
11
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare African American and non-African American hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients on self-reported symptoms of HCV liver disease and psychosocial characteristics commonly affected by it in a sample of 309 patients enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. African Americans (n = 196) rated a higher reliance on religion/spirituality for coping with HCV compared to non-African Americans. This study's findings are a basis for encouragement of public health efforts and programs to seek partnerships with African American faith and religious communities to identify and treat undiagnosed cases of HCV and promote HCV awareness.