The Role of optimism in the Relationship between Social Support and Treatment Adherence of Hepatitis Patients in Zanjan

Hepatitis is a major health problem in the world and is one of the ten leading causes of death in humans. This disease is an important cause of cancer and liver disorders and causes disabilities in people. The aim of this study was to determine the role of optimism in the relationship between social support and treatment adherence of hepatitis patients in Zanjan.

The method of this research was correlational. The statistical population of the study included all patients with hepatitis referred to the Comprehensive Health Center No. 5 in Zanjan in the first half of 2019 were 999 people, who 210 patients was selected by accessible randoming in the study. To collect the required data, McLean (1993) Ambiguity Tolerance Questionnaire, Sherborne & Stewart (1991) Social Support Questionnaire and Moriski et al. (2008) treatment adherence questionnaire were used to collect the required data. Also, Pearson statistical tests and multiple regression in Spss software version 25 were used to analyze the data. Significance level was considered 0.05 for all tests.

The results showed between social support with treatment adherence (P<0.001, r= 0.360), between social support with optimism (P<0.001, r= 0.329) and also between optimism. There was a direct and significant correlation with treatment (P <0.001, r= 0.349). The results also showed that the effect of total social support on optimism was significant (P<0.001, β= 0.442). The partial mediating role of optimism in the relationship between social support and treatment adherence was significant (P<0.05).

In general, the results of this study showed that social support with partial mediation of optimism was significantly associated with treatment adherence of hepatitis patients.