Investigate The Relationship between Therapeutic Indicators and Quality of Life in Children Aged 8-12 Years with Thalassemia Major in Iranshahr, 2017.

Instruction:

 Identifying and modifying the factors affecting the quality of life of children with thalassemia is essential due to the increase in the life expectancy of these patients because of therapeutic advances and can create a more desirable level of health in these children. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between therapeutic indicators and quality of life in children aged 8-12 years with thalassemia major in Iranshahr, 2017.

 In the present descriptive and correlational study, 134 children with major thalassemia in the range of 8-12-year-old from Iranshahr thalassemia center in 2017 entered the study by census method. Data collection tools included a demographic characteristics form, a form of therapeutic indicators, including laboratory indicators (ferritin and hemoglobin levels), an iron chelator, blood transfusion intervals, age of the beginning blood transfusion, and a general questionnaire on the childchr('39')s quality of life. Data analysis performed using descriptive and analytical analysis using SPSS software version 19. The significance level was considered 0.05

 The results showed that a significant relationship between the total quality of life score and all subscales with the age of the beginning of treatment at younger years and lower blood transfusion intervals (p<0.05). Also, there was no statistically significant relationship between the total quality of life score and all subscales and laboratory indicators (ferritin and hemoglobin) (p>0.05).

 The results of the study showed that there is a relationship between starting treatment at a younger age and shorter blood transfusion intervals with the quality of life of children with major thalassemia. Therefore, by planning and implementing nursing interventions to improve the level of knowledge of parents for regular blood transfusion and proper intake of iron chelators, can help to maintain therapeutic indicators in the normal range and create a more appropriate level of quality of life in these patients.