Effect of self-management empowering model on the quality of life in adolescents and youths with major thalassemia

Currently, medical advances ensure life-expectancy of chronic patients such as thalassemia. Improvement in the quality of life of these patients requires that medical treatment be combined with psychosocial support. The present study aimed at investigating the effect of self-management empowerment model on the quality of life in adolescents and youth with major thalassemia. This was randomized clinical trial in two groups. 70 Eligible adolescents and youths with major thalassemia were selected through census in Bushehr and Borazjan thalassemia center. Samples were allocated to case and control groups. Data collection tool was quality of life questionnaire (SF-36). Intervention was performed in three stages. post-test was performed 1.5 months after pre-test in control group and 1.5 months after intervention in case group. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18 and chi-square, independent t-test, and mann-witney (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of demographic data between the two groups (P>0.05). As a result, mean difference of eight dimensions of SF-36 quality of life were statistically significant between case and control groups before and after the intervention (P<0.0001). Education based on self-management empowerment model has a great impact on the quality of life in adolescents and youth with major thalassemia.