Depression, Anxiety, and Perceived Social Support among Adults with Beta-Thalassemia Major: Cross-Sectional Study / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Considering the high prevalence of depression and anxiety among thalassemia patients and the role of social support in preventing mental disorders, this study aimed to determine prevalence of depression, anxiety, and perceived social support (PSS) among adults with beta-thalassemia major. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed with 389 adults with beta-thalassemia major. Data were collected via a questionnaire consisting of three parts: demographic and medical information, the Persian version of the hospital anxiety and depression scale, and the Persian version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS ver. 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) through analytical statistics (independent-samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multilevel linear regression), and the results less than 0.05 were considered to be significant. RESULTS: The mean scores of depression, anxiety, and PSS of patients were 7.42±3.17, 7.47±4.35, and 41.8±8.64, respectively. Of 389 patients, 19.8% had depression and 23.7% had an anxiety disorder. Relationships of depression and anxiety with age, the level of education, job, and family income were statistically significant, as were those of PSS with age, thalassemia center, family income, job, and the level of education. PSS from family, friends, and significant others were the significant predictive factors of depression and anxiety among adult patients with beta-thalassemia major. CONCLUSION: Considering the PSS as a factor influencing the reduction in depression and anxiety in thalassemia patients, social support from the social networks (spouse, family members, friends, and healthcare workers) should be integrated with interventions that are designed to improve the mental and physical health of thalassemia patients.

Associations between a health-promoting lifestyle and quality of life among adults with beta-thalassemia major / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: A health-promoting lifestyle (HPL) is a factor that affects the quality of life (QoL) in patients with beta-thalassemia (β-thalassemia). Due to the lack of studies of this issue, this study aimed to determine the association between HPL and QoL among adults with β-thalassemia. METHODS: This cross-sectional (descriptive-analytic) study was conducted among 389 adult patients with β-thalassemia in Tehran, Iran. The research instrument included a questionnaire consisting of three parts: demographic items, the Short-Form Health Survey and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. The results were considered significant at the conventional p<0.05 level. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 30.2±8.3 years. The mean score of the HPL dimensions was 127.28±21.53, and the mean score of the QoL domains was 61.44±23.38. The highest and the lowest mean scores of the HPL dimensions were found for spiritual growth (23.96±5.74) and physical activity (11.32±3.95), respectively. The QoL scores in all three domains (total, physical component summary score, and mental component summary score) were moderate. Health responsibility, physical activity, spiritual growth, and interpersonal relations were significant predictive factors of QoL in adults with β-thalassemia; these four dimensions explained 37.9% of the variance in QoL. CONCLUSIONS: QoL and HPL were not at acceptable levels among patients with thalassemia. Therefore, educational interventions emphasizing spiritual growth, physical activity, and interpersonal relations are necessary for patients with thalassemia.

[Assessing the effect of educational program based on small group on promoting knowledge and health literacy among women with type2 diabetes referring to selected hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences]

Health Literacy is the capacity in which individuals have to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Limited health literacy can reduce adults' ability to comprehend and adhere treatment plans. This study was designed and implemented to assess effect of health education on promoting knowledge and health literacy in women with type 2 diabetes. This randomized clinical trial study, was conducted among 160 women with type 2 diabetes, in two experimental and control groups. Tools of current study were a brief form of standard questionnaire [Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults, TOFHLA] and knowledge was measured by self-administrated questionnaire. Intervention in a form of small groups, was performed in 6 educational sessions [45-60minuts] in experimental group. In order to analyzing data, SPSS16 software was used and independent t- test, Kruskal-Wallis, Whitney U, Wilcoxon, Co-Variation, Chi-square were conducted. Demographic variables of studied population in two groups was similar before intervention [p>0.05]. Differences between the scores of Knowledge and Health Literacy in two groups, after and before intervention, was totally different [after, p<0.001] and [before, p>0/05]. Study findings indicated that education with small group's strategy in experimental group, in comparison with current education is effective

[Relation between empowerment of diabetes control and adoption of self-management behaviors and its related factors among type 2 diabetic patients]

Diabetes mellitus as a chronic disease is associated with complications and stress. Empowerment as a coping index in health issues can be helpful among diabetic patients. In this study, we aimed to determine empowerment and adoption of self-management behaviors and its related factors among type 2 diabetic patients referring to hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 2010. This study was a cross-sectional research conducted during a 9 months period [2010-2011]. A total of 688 samples were selected by random sampling. A questionnaire consisting of three parts including socio-demographic and health related data, diabetes empowerment scale [28 items], and diabetes self- management instrument [35 items] was used. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS software version 18 with using parametric and nonparametric tests. Response rate was 100%. Mean age of participants was 54.41 +/- 8.22 [Mean +/- SD]. Study findings showed that empowerment had significant relation between level of education [p=0.006] and age [p=0.009]. Self- management and some variables such as age [p<0.001], level of education [p<0.001], marital status [p=0.04] and disease duration [p=0.004] had significant relationship. Also, Pearson correlation coefficient showed that empowerment had reverse and linear relation with adoption of self-management behaviors among type 2 diabetic patients. Thus, by increasing empowerment score, adoption of self-management behaviors is increased [r = 0.28, p<0.001]. Regarding to relation between empowerment and adoption of self-management behaviors, focusing on planning empowerment based interventions has been more highlighted. It seems these strategies can be helpful in decreasing complications and mortality.