Promoting Adherence to Iron Chelation Treatment in Beta-Thalassemia Patients

Abstract

Chinea Eziefula,1,2 Farrukh T Shah,3,4 Kofi A Anie5,6 1Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; 2Psychology Services, Whittington Health NHS Trust, London, UK; 3Department of Haematology, Whittington Health NHS Trust, London, UK; 4Medical Director for Transfusion, NHSBT, London, UK; 5London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK; 6Imperial College London, London, UKCorrespondence: Farrukh T Shah, Department of Haematology, Whittington Health, Magdala Avenue, London, N19 5NF, Tel [phone], Email [email protected]: Thalassaemia is one of the commonest inherited genetic disorders world-wide with around 25,000 births of the most severely affected transfusion dependent children annually. Patients with transfusion dependent thalassaemia require regular blood transfusions to maintain life but because of this will develop iron overload. To remove the excess iron, patients are required to take iron chelation therapy (ICT). ICT requires lifelong adherence to treatment to prevent end organ damage from developing. Many of these preventable complications make adherence to therapy more complex for patients. In this review, we focus on two commonly encountered patient scenarios and discuss how different psychological models and a relational theory can be used to understand and support adherence to treatment.Keywords: beta thalassaemia, iron chelation therapy, treatment, adherence, psychology

Keywords

• beta thalassaemia
• iron chelation therapy
• treatment
• adherence
• psychology