Improving disease knowledge in 6- to 10-year-olds with sickle cell disease: A quasi-experimental study.

Abstract

Increasing knowledge and understanding of disease is known to improve outcomes in persons living with a chronic illness. In this paper, we aim to compare the disease knowledge of children with sickle cell disease (SCD), age 6-10years, who received an intervention (an educational colouring book on SCD) geared towards improving disease knowledge, to those who did not received the colouring book. A quasi-experimental study was conducted where disease knowledge was determined in 56 children who had received the colouring book and compared to 60 children who did not receive this intervention. The mean knowledge score was significantly higher in the intervention group (mean difference=2.65; 95% CI [1.43, 3.86]), as well as in older children and in those in higher grades but there was no difference between sexes. In a multiple regression model (adjusted R2 : 0.39; p value<.001), knowledge score was significantly higher in those who received the intervention (β: 2.62; 95% CI [1.48, 3.76]) while adjusting for age, gender, persons living at home, and the father's employment status. The study highlights that a simple, inexpensive (cost: US$1/book) child-friendly intervention can significantly improve knowledge about SCD even in young children. It also underlines various social factors that are associated with children's understanding of their disease.