Psychological trauma and post-traumatic growth in parents of children with sickle cell disease
Ali Alsaad,
Abdullah Alghanim,
Mohammed Aldawood,
Ali Al Zaid,
Hussain Aldehneen,
Rawan Aldrees,
Ammar Alsalem,
Sami Albattat,
Abbas Al Mutair
Affiliations
Ali Alsaad
Department of Clinical Neurocience, King Faisal Universiry, Alahsa, Eastren Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia; College of Medicine, King Faisal Universiry, Alahsa, Eastren Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Alghanim
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; College of Medicine, King Faisal Universiry, Alahsa, Eastren Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed Aldawood
Department of Neurology, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia; College of Medicine, King Faisal Universiry, Alahsa, Eastren Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
Ali Al Zaid
Department of Urology, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
Hussain Aldehneen
College of Medicine, King Faisal Universiry, Alahsa, Eastren Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
Rawan Aldrees
Department of Emergency medicine, King Fahad Hospital, Alahsa, Eastren Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia; College of Medicine, King Faisal Universiry, Alahsa, Eastren Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
Ammar Alsalem
College of Medicine, King Faisal Universiry, Alahsa, Eastren Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
Sami Albattat
Department of Pediatric Hematology, Maternity and Children Hospital, Alahsa, Eastren Province of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
Abbas Al Mutair
Research Center, Almoosa Specialist Hospital, Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia; School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Nursing, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dahran, Saudi Arabia; Almoosa College of Health Sciences, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood condition characterized by abnormal hemoglobin, leading to chronic hemolysis and vaso-occlusive complications. Caregivers of children with SCD often experience significant distress, akin to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to measure the degree of trauma and post-traumatic growth among parents (caregivers) of children with SCD in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 294 primary caregivers were recruited for this study, through direct phone calls and online outreach using contact information obtained from their primary treating physician in Maternity and Children Hospitals and the Hereditary Blood Diseases Center in Al-Ahsa. Inclusion criteria required caregivers not to be receiving professional mental health care and to have a child with SCD below the age of 18. Results indicate that caregiver gender significantly affected IESR scores, with mothers reporting higher scores than fathers. Family income had a significant effect on IESR as well. In terms of education level, higher-educated caregivers were less likely to experience severe trauma. Significant differences emerged between online and phone interview participants, with online respondents reporting higher post-traumatic growth and higher trauma levels. This study represents a crucial step in understanding the challenges faced by caregivers of children with SCD in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. However, the study has limitations, including a substantial portion of the sample being from a single clinic and a cross-sectional design.
