Exploring Patients’ Perspectives about Thalassemia and Its Treatment Modalities: Cross Sectional Hospital-Based Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22317/jcms.v10i2.1544Keywords:
Attitude, Iron chelation therapy, knowledge, Practice, Thalassemia.Abstract
Objective: the study was conducted to identify the potential gap in patients’ understanding, belief and behaviour towards thalassemia and its medications including iron chelation therapy (ICT).
Methods: An observational cross-sectional study performed from Feb to March 2023 on patients admitted to thalassemia centre in Najaf. The study included male and female patients diagnosed with thalassemia, taking iron chelation therapy, and accepted to participate in this study. The data were obtained by using a pretested validated questionnaire focused on sociodemographic data and 20 items used to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice level (KAP).
Results: A total of 199 patients completed the study. About 73.9% of them had adequate knowledge, 78.4% showed positive attitude and 78.9% had good practice toward thalassemia and its therapy. However, 73% of them did not know that iron overload could cause diabetes and around 50% of them showed wrong belief toward importance of not missing medication doses. Additionally, third of patients experienced dose missing due to side effects. There were significant positive correlations among the total scores of patients KAP. All scores of KAP were significantly correlated with educational level while knowledge and practice scores were associated with the occupation as well as knowledge and attitude scores were also related to monthly income. Among remaining variables only male and urban residence were significantly linked to high knowledge score.
Conclusion: The study revealed overall adequate knowledge, positive attitude and good practice toward thalassemia and its therapy. Also, the study identifying specific and essential gap in patients’ awareness, belief and behaviour that need a tailored patients support and educational program.
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