Perceptions of thalassemia and its treatment
Wan Ismahanisa Ismail, Mohamed Azmi Ahmad Hassali, Maryam Farooqui, Fahad Saleem, Hisham Aljadhey
Abstract
Background
Thalassaemia is a common public health in Malaysia and one of the most common chronic and genetic disorders.
Aims
The present qualitative study explores with respects to thalassaemia knowledge, perceptions of conventional therapies and the factors contribute to medication adherence in Malaysian populations.
Methods
This study used a qualitative was adopted a better understanding of the current perceptions and knowledge held by thalassaemia patients. Twenty-one thalassaemia patients were recruited from Thalassaemia Society, Kedah, Malaysia from May to July 2015 and interviewed. The semi-structured interviews were audiotaped, transcribe verbatim and translate into English for thematic content analysis.
Results
The majority of patients’ fear of side effects was main reasons given for delay and seeking treatment but the participant perceived to change after receiving treatment with the success of the treatment. Participants also reported that there were fears with the complication of blood transfusion after receiving blood because transfusion related to iron overload. Complications of iron overload related to mortality and morbidity of thalassaemia patients.
Conclusion
This study provides basic information about thalassaemia patients’ perceptions towards Thalassemia and its treatment. The findings can help in the design of educational programs to enhance awareness and acceptance of Thalassaemia screening at an earlier stage. Priorities for future research should focus on who refused the conventional therapies.
Full Text:
Thalassaemia is a common public health in Malaysia and one of the most common chronic and genetic disorders.
Aims
The present qualitative study explores with respects to thalassaemia knowledge, perceptions of conventional therapies and the factors contribute to medication adherence in Malaysian populations.
Methods
This study used a qualitative was adopted a better understanding of the current perceptions and knowledge held by thalassaemia patients. Twenty-one thalassaemia patients were recruited from Thalassaemia Society, Kedah, Malaysia from May to July 2015 and interviewed. The semi-structured interviews were audiotaped, transcribe verbatim and translate into English for thematic content analysis.
Results
The majority of patients’ fear of side effects was main reasons given for delay and seeking treatment but the participant perceived to change after receiving treatment with the success of the treatment. Participants also reported that there were fears with the complication of blood transfusion after receiving blood because transfusion related to iron overload. Complications of iron overload related to mortality and morbidity of thalassaemia patients.
Conclusion
This study provides basic information about thalassaemia patients’ perceptions towards Thalassemia and its treatment. The findings can help in the design of educational programs to enhance awareness and acceptance of Thalassaemia screening at an earlier stage. Priorities for future research should focus on who refused the conventional therapies.
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