Evaluation of Self-efficacy in Children and Adolescents With Thalassemia Major

Abstract

Background: The survival of thalassemia patients has increased, but there are still challenges regarding the complications of cardiac or endocrine dysfunction and the psychological problems of these patients. Many patients with chronic disease, including thalassemia major (TM), have shown a reduction in communication skills and self-efficacy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the self-efficacy among TM patients and determine the related factors among them.

Materials and methods: This research was a cross-sectional study and consisted of 40 TM patients 7 to 19 years of age. The control group was 80 nonthalassemia patients. Data were gathered using a 2-part questionnaire. The collected data was entered into the SPSS (version 21) and were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics (Mann-Whitney U, and multiple linear regression model).

Results: According to the Mann-Whitney test, there was no significant difference between self-efficacy score among the affected and nonthalassemia groups (P=0.62). According to the regression model, only, the frequency of monthly blood transfusion was significantly correlated with self-efficacy score, so that by 1 U increase in frequency of monthly blood transfusion, we will have 11 U decrease in self-efficacy score (β=-11, P=0.011).

Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the rate of self-efficacy in children with thalassemia was moderate (52.5%) to good (45%). The allocation of a specific ward, easy access to health care staff, and social support for patients may seem to justify the moderate to good self-efficacy in these patients.