Knowledge of Children and Adolescents with Beta Thalassemia Major about their Disease: An Assessment Study

Abstract

Background: Beta-thalassemia major is the most common hemoglobin disorder in the world. Assessing the knowledge of the children and adolescents regarding a betathalassemia major is important because helps to avoid complications. This study aimed to assess knowledge of children ß-TM about their disease. Design: Descriptive exploratory design. Settings: The study conducted at Hematology Outpatient Clinics and inpatients word at Children's Hospital affiliated to Ain Shams University. Sampling: A purposive sample comprised of 80 children with beta thalassemia major. Tools: Part 1: Designed questionnaire. Part 2: History of studied children regarding beta-thalassemia major. Part 3: Knowledge of the children regarding beta-thalassemia major. Part 4: Evaluating informational needs of studied children about beta-thalassemia major. Results: Current study revealed that the mean age of studied children was 14.25 ± 2.8 years and slightly more than half of them were female, about more than half of studied children had unsatisfactory knowledge about beta-thalassemia major. Conclusion: Current study revealed that more than half of the studied children were had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding beta-thalassemia major. Recommendation: Provide continuous health education to children with betathalassemia major regarding their disease.