Factors affecting compliance for iron chelating agents in thalassemic patients in Basrah province, Iraq

Abstract

Objective: To assess factors that affect patient's compliance for various type of chelating agents for thalassemic patients using direct questionnaires throughout 5 months period.

Methods: A prospective screening study done on Patients with diagnosed transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia treated on different types of iron chelating agents. Thalassemia unit in AL-Zahraa teaching hospital. Evaluation of patient's preferability for chelation therapy, predictive values and reliability.

Results: In the current study, we found that 88 patients (60%) had accept the treatment in different degrees while the remaining number of patients (57 patients, 39.3%) had not accept their treatment.

Conclusion: In β-thalassemia compliance, monitoring using several methods is crucial as non-compliance is common and is associated with decreased survival. In addition, to have a good ideas about maintaining a reliable time for patient to continue on his chelating therapy.