Abstract

BACKGROUND: The self-efficacy of thalassemia patients is an important factor in creating behavioral changes in such patients. Home-care training reduces hospitalization duration as well as relevant costs and improves disease outcomes. This study was designed to assess the effect of home-care training on the self-efficacy of patients with beta thalassemia major. METHODOLOGY: This was a quasi-experimental, case-control, before and after intervention study conducted on 136 thalassemia cases from January 2014 to October 2015. Data was collected through Shere general self-efficacy questionnaire (SGSES). Home-care trainings were provided in the form of training courses with respect to the training needs of thalassemia major cases. Two (2) months after the end of training courses, SGSES questionnaire was filled again and the obtained data was analyzed by SPSS 21 as well as descriptive-inferential statistics (significance level=P</=0.05). RESULTS: The results of this study revealed that the mean self-efficacy score of control group was 48.69+/-6.82 before intervention which increased to 46.69+/-6.81 after intervention. The mean self-efficacy score of case group was 44.58+/-5.23 before intervention which increased to 49.5+/-6.66 after intervention. The rise of self-efficacy score, after intervention, was significantly higher in the case group compared with the control group (P</=.001). CONCLUSION: According to results, home-care training can develop self-efficacy in thalassemia patients. In home-care training procedure patients play an active role. By providing home-care trainings, therefore, an effective step should be taken to promote the self-efficacy of the patients and to decrease associated problems.