Psychosocial Problems in Children with Thalassemia and
Their Siblingst
ORAW AN LOUTHRENOO, M.D.*, PAT TRA THANARATTA NAKORN, M.D.*,
SOMJAI SITTIPREECHACHARN, B.Sc.*, TORPONG SANGUANSERMSRI, M.D.*
Affiliation : * pepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
t This. manuscript has been presented at the Thai Congress of Pediatrics Meeting by The Royal College of Pediatricians of
Thailand on the 4"' October 2544.
AbstractBeta-thalassemia is a chronic illness causing serious symptoms to children and a burden
to families. The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychosocial problems in children with thalas
semia and their siblings by using a semi-structured interview and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist
(PSC). The study sample included 82 children with thalassemia, 20 siblings, and 50 control children
without a chronic illness. With children and families demographically controlled, psychosocial pro
blems were significantly more common in children with thalassemia than in those without chronic
illness, 28.05 per cent vs 4 per cent (p=<>.oOl), but there was no difference between siblings and the
controls, 5 per cent vs 4 per cent (p=0.64). The mean PSC score in children with thalassemia was
higher than that in the sibling and control group (18.34 vs 10.95 and 10.28, respectively; p
Keywords : Psychosocial, Thalassemia
All Articles
Download
