Effect of Health Education Program on Care Provided by Mothers to Their Children with Leukemia

Abstract

Leukemia is the most common childhood malignancy that starts in early blood forming cells found in the bone marrow. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of health education program on care provided by mothers to their children with leukemia. Study Design: A quasi-experimental design was used to conduct this study. Setting: This study was conducted at the Outpatient Clinic of 57357 Hospital. Subjects: A purposeful sample of 60 children and their mothers were selected. Tools: Three tools: 1) An Interviewing questionnaire to assess demographic characteristics for children with leukemia and their mothers, children health needs and problems, mothers' knowledge about leukemia. 2) An Observational checklist to assess mothers' practices. 3) Medical records for children’s health status. Results: 73.3% of mothers had unsatisfactory knowledge about leukemia and its treatment, and 65% of them, their total practice about the care provided for their children with leukemia not done pre program while post program, it showed highly statistically significant improvement (X2 = 14.7368 at P < 0.0001). Also, for around half of children with leukemia their physical, psychological, personal, and social health needs were not achieved and they had severe health problems related to side effects of chemotherapy pre program. Conclusion: The study concluded that there were statistically significant efficacy of the educational program on improving the mothers' knowledge and practices about the care provided to their children with leukemia. As well, a highly statistically significant achievement of total children's health needs post educational program but insignificantly related to reducing their health problems. Recommendations: The study recommended that periodic health education and training program for all mothers of children with leukemia to improve their knowledge and practices about the care provided to their children at outpatient clinic or after chemotherapeutic session.