Edinburgh Napier University

  The current study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experience of liver transplant patients with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) recurrence. The semi-structured interviews with seven male participants were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three master themes were identified: 1) the experience of encountering HCV; 2) managing the diagnosis of HCV; and 3) the experience of treatment. The first theme highlighted the psychosocial consequences of being diagnosed with HCV including fears of contaminating others, a fear of disclosing the condition to others and stigma. The second theme revealed participants’ resilient coping strategies such as optimism, acceptance, and adaptation that helped them to better manage the diagnosis. Participants also reported their need for support from both their loved ones and professional care providers. Finally, the third master theme focused on the experience of receiving treatment, including both the pre-and post-transplant period. Participants reflected on their participation in a number of medical trials that made them feel like “a guinea pig”. Participants were found to be aware of the risk of post-transplant virus recurrence and expressed uncertainty for their futures following re-diagnosis. A new cure evoked hope for the future, fuelled a strong determination to fight the virus, and generated a lively discussion on the need for information provision. The clinical implications of this study lie, in particular, in the potential for the improvement in quality of life for patients with a current diagnosis of HCV and in those with virus recurrence that are awaiting the new treatment.