Beliefs of Jordanian Children with Thalassemia toward Using Iron Chelation Therapy

Abstract

Adherence to thalassemia treatment including chelation drugs is influenced by numerous factors. This study aims to explore beliefs about iron chelation therapy and adherence to this medication in Jordanian children with thalassemia major. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, seventy three patients were selected conveniently to complete the study instruments. Participants reported high adherence to their chelation therapy (88.1%). The majority (87.6%) expressed necessity for chelation therapy. However, 42.18% of the participants expressed their concerns about the therapy in which 57.9% of them showed concerns about dependency on medicine and 46.4% of them revealed concerns about the long-term effect of medicine. Overall, about 12.9% of the participants recorded correct and complete answers about thalassemia and its treatment. Knowledge about thalassemia and concerns about chelation were not significantly associated with adherence to the chelation therapy (r = 0.32, p = 0.19; r = 0.29, p = 0.25, respectively). However, there was a significant positive relationship between beliefs about the necessity of the therapy and adherence to it (r = 0.38, p = 0.03). In conclusion, Jordanian children showed proper adherence to their chelation therapy. Health care professionals should discuss patients’ concerns about chelation therapy which might increase patients’ adherence to their therapy.