EFFECTIVENESS OF INDIVIDUALIZED EMPOWERMENT EDUCATION ON CHILDREN WITH BETA-THALASSEMIA MAJOR: A MIXED-METHOD STUDY

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to identify the problems related to the disease process of 12-18 years old children with Beta-Thalassemia Major and to examine the effectiveness of individualized empowerment education regarding these needs. This research is a mixed-type study. In the first stage, it is aimed to determine the problems and needs of children with BTM in relation to the disease process; the phenomenological method was used. In the second stage, the pre/post-test controlled quasi-experimental method was used in a single group. "Descriptive Information Form", "Semi-Structured Interview Form" and "Questionnaire for Determining the Needs of Children with Beta Thalassemia Major" were used to collect data. The first stage, three themes were formed: treatment process, family process, and social life. Children stated that they had health problems such as fatigue, headache, weakness before erythrocyte transfusion. Also, the children felt unhappy, sad, and angry because of disease-related stigma. In the second stage, a statistically significant difference was found between the total mean scores of the empowerment education pre-test, first post-test and second post-test(X 2 =26.00, p<.001). As a result of the study, it was determined that individualized empowerment education had a positive effect on children's knowledge of the disease, treatment process, mother/father relationship and social life needs.