To discuss psychological meanings attributed to IFN alpha treatment's side effects and its symbolic relation with adherence or not to treatment, on viewpoint of interviewed outpatients at a Hepatitis Service.

Data collection was conducted using the Clinical-Qualitative Method, utilizing semi-directed interviews with open-ended questions in depth, fully transcribed. Qualitative Content Analysis employed for processing data, emerging meaning cores, with categorization into discussion topics. Sample closed by information saturation.

Nine interviews. The analysis revealed:

– coping attitude - handling the disease to have willpower; a moral feeling regarding the need to overcome the disease and treatment side effects to demonstrate “strength”, as well as to deny psychologically the occurrence of side effects;

– disruptive attitude: reports of anxiety regarding to patients presenting neuropsychiatric symptoms by medication;

– realistic attitude: speeches show perception of natural evolution and treatment real function.

Guilt feelings emerged regarding to difficulties of being loyal to treatment, a strongly valorative speech on being ill what must lead to “overcome the evils of life”. Health teams must understand these meanings to talk openly about human feelings on illness and treatment, promoting an adequate adherence.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.