Evaluation of self image and self esteem in cirrhosis patients.

ABSTRACTThis study aims to evaluate the self-image and self-esteem values in cirrhosispatients. The data were collected through survey forms, Self Image Scales andCoopersmith Self-esteem Scales. The data base was analyzed by statistical packageprogram. Within the analysis process, t-test (t) was administered to independentsamples whereas Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskall-Wallis Variance Analysis wereapplied where normal distribution hypothesis could not be achieved. Of the patientsinvolved in the study fifty-one percent of the sampling were aged between 45 and 64;sixty percent were male; 65.6% were elementary level graduates; 84.4% weremarried and 72.2% lived in the urban areas and all had social insurance. Most of thepatients with cirrhosis (44.4%) were diagnosed in the first 24 months. Almost all ofthe patients (97.8%) experienced changes in their physical appearances. Thesechanges disturbed %97.8 of the patients with cirrhosis. The average self-imagescores were found to be high for the male patients (108,24±14,18), the patients agedbetween 25 and 44 (108,59±14,74), the patients with high school degrees(115,59±13,91), the single patients (115,50±08,96), the patients, who lived in ruralareas (111,89±17,60), the patients, who were diagnosed between 0 and 24 months(107,98±17,77), and the patients with no changes in the physical appearance(133,50±17,68). The average self-esteem scores were found to be high for thefemale patients (59,22±13,31), patients aged between 25 and 44 (62,72±11,19),patients with university degrees (63,43±11,19), single patients (66,00±16,81),patients, who lived in urban areas (58,18±12,23), the patients, who were diagnosed inbetween two and four years (58,97±13,73), and the patients with no changes in thephysical appearance (72,00±16,97).Keywords; Self-image, Self-esteem, Liver Cirrhosis.