Evaluation of the Effect of Self-care Education on the Self-efficacy of Adolescents with Thalassemia Major

Among the strategies to improve self-efficacy in the adolescents with Thalassemia major are empowering patients via self-care education to deal with the effects and complications of the disease, having more control over the disease, and maintaining the right way of life and daily functioning. This study aimed to determine the effect of self-care education via Tele Nursing method on the self-efficacy of the adolescents with Thalassemia major. This interventional study was performed in 60 adolescents with Thalassemia major, who were randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. Data were collected using self-efficacy questionnaire for children and adolescents. The educational intervention was performed with nutritional content, physical activity, and walking, stress management, and practice of stress relief through five Telegram communications in one month for the intervention group. In the intervention group, the mean score of social self-efficacy before and after education was 24.9 and 26.29, respectively (p=0.02). Meanwhile, the mean score of academic self-efficacy was 25.03 and 27.2 before and after the education, respectively (p=0.02), whereas the mean score of emotional self-efficacy was 21.46 and 22.1 before and after the education, respectively (p=0.004). Moreover, the mean total score of self-efficacy in the intervention group before and after education was 71.4 and 76.23, respectively (p=0.001). According to the results of the study, self-efficacy training via the Tele Nursing method improved the self-efficacy of the adolescents diagnosed with Thalassemia major. Considering the interest of adolescents in the cyberspace and social media, it is suggested that this type of training be considered for adolescents with other chronic diseases as well