Knowledge of the Relatives of Thalassemia Patients with Special Regards to Splenectomy as a Treatment Modality: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: Thalassemia is a hereditary autosomal recessive haemoglobinopathy that remains a major health problem throughout the world. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge of the relatives of Thalassemia patients regarding different aspects of Thalassemia with special emphasis on the role of splenectomy. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a Government Tertiary Thalassemia day care centre. Initially, 131 relatives of Thalassemia patients were interviewed. Excluding 10 relatives, 87 (66.4 %) relatives having knowledge of splenectomy were further interviewed regarding various aspects of splenectomy. Result: In our survey, 67.2 % relatives had knowledge about the congenital origin of the disease. The knowledge about premarriage counselling, risk of consanguineous marriage, antenatal screening and medical termination of pregnancy was 55%, 29.8%, 70.2% and 64.1% respectively. Although all (100%) relatives knew about regular blood transfusion and iron chelation, only 74% and 63.4% of the relatives had the knowledge about splenectomy and bone marrow transplant as a treatment modality, respectively. In 87 relatives interviewed further, 37.9 % came to know about splenectomy from other relatives. The indications of splenectomy known were: splenomegaly (98.8%), increased blood transfusion (68.9%), low platelet count (20.6%) and low TLC (4.6%). Only 47.1% were aware about the optimal age of splenectomy. Awareness about serious complication of OPSI, its prevention by preoperative vaccinations and postoperative chemoprophylaxis was only 48.3%, 62% and 46% respectively. Around 59% knew about role of blood transfusion and 74.7% were aware about the need of regular follow up after splenectomy