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Identifier

000354995

Title

Η ιατρική και κοινωνική φροντίδα των πασχόντων από ομόζυγη β-μεσογειακή αναιμία στην Κρήτη : η σημερινή πραγματικότητα

Alternative Title

Medical and social care of patients suffering from b-thalassaemia in the region of Crete : today's data

Creator

Φουντουλάκη, Ευανθία

Thesis advisor

Φιλαλήθης, Αναστάσιος
Αλεγκάκης, Αθανάσιος

Abstract

Developments in Medical Science field during the last few years have resulted in improving the therapeutical treatment of patients with Thalassaemia. The current way of dealing with this disease, has increased the expected survival rate of the patients, using new therapeutical protocols. The success of the prevention programs that have been applied in Greece as well appears from the fact that the annual birthrate of children with Thalassaemia has decreased about 20% during the last years. The study population of the present survey are the patients suffering from Thalassaemia Major that are being transfused in the Thalassaemia units across Crete and its objective purpose is the exploration of the medical and social needs of this group, the compliance to the new improved chelation therapies, which factors compliance is affected by and also the latest data involving Crete. The results of this research have shown that the majority of patients with homozygous b-Thalassaemia that live in Crete, are staying in the larger cities of the island and their age range is 18-48 years(except one individual at the age of 67). Five under age patients (≤17) have been found registered in the Thalassaemia units that their interview results were not included in the statistical analysis due to small sample size, but their needs and problems were mentioned in the discussion chapter. The small number of these new cases shows to a point the results of the prevention programs as well as the consequences of the economic immigration, as three out of five those underage patients are children coming from economic immigrants families. The study population seems to be overcharged with iron supplies, despite the fact that new improved methods of chelation have appeared in the last ten years. Lack of strict compliance to the recommended therapy of chelation is a fact for the majority of the patients although there is a definitely improved compliance to the new therapies, where the administration of chelators is given per os or in combination. The results established a correlation between the psychological burden and symptoms in patients and their compliance to the chelation therapy. In addition, the economical status and the education level that patients have, was found to influence the compliance level to the doctors’ instructions. A high morbidity that increases with the age was also shown. A percentage higher than 55% of the adult patients reports the existence of some kind of psychological symptoms (nervosity, insomnia, anxiety and melancholia). Finally, it was established in general terms that those patients live nowadays a relevantly normal life that approaches the normal population level. Taking under consideration the progress that Medical science has made, the Thalassaemia patients can hope for an even better future quality of life requiring however high standard health services supplying their needs for a lifetime.

Physical description

132 σ. : πιν. ; 30 εκ.

Language

Greek, English

Subject

Chelation therapy

Compliance

Epidemiology

Hematologic Diseases therapy

Impact

Prevention programmes

Psychological burden