Impact of health instructions on improving knowledge and practices of haemophilia A adolescents: a single centre experience

• Published in: Haemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. e260 - e266
• Main Authors: El Dakhakhny, A. M., Hesham, M. A., Hassan, T. H., El Awady, S., Hanfy, M. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; adolescents; Child; haemophilia; health; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hemophilia A - therapy; Humans; instructions; knowledge; practices; haemophilia; instructions; health; adolescents; practices; knowledge
• ISSN: 1351-8216; 1365-2516
• DOI: 10.1111/hae.12431

Summary Introduction Nowadays, health education has been elevated to a higher standing in healthcare systems in managing chronic illness; yet, this approach has not received sufficient support in developing countries as these societies still tend to the traditional stage of ‘treatment after disease’. Adolescence is a critical period and voyage into adulthood can be more challenging for haemophilia teens. For teens with haemophilia, learning to care for their own disorder is a giant step forward in asserting their independence and preparation for adult life. Aim We aimed to determine impact of health instructions on improving knowledge and practices of haemophilia A adolescents. Methods An interventional study was conducted on 50 haemophilia A adolescents at outpatient clinic of Pediatric Hematology Unit of Zagazig University Hospitals. Three tools were used. The first was a structured interview sheet to evaluate patients' knowledge. The second was a clinical checklist to evaluate patients' practices. The third was health instructions program. Tools were developed by the researchers based on a thorough review of related literature and a full understanding of the needs of haemophilic adolescents. Evaluation of health instructions success was based on comparing scores of tool I and tool II before health instructions (pretest) and after health instructions immediately (posttest) and after 2 months (follow‐up test). Results There was a significant improvement in knowledge and practices of haemophilia A adolescents in posttest and follow‐up test compared to pretest. Conclusion Health instructions have an impact on improving knowledge and practices of haemophilia A adolescents.