Experiences of Iranian Patients with Thalassemia Major Regarding Their Palliative and Supportive Care Needs: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Nursing Care Research Center in Chronic Diseases, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran;

2 Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;

3 College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman;

4 Nursing Care Research Center, Clinical Sciences Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Due to the long-term and progressive nature of β-thalassemia major (β-TM), patients
need comprehensive palliative and supportive care covering physical, mental, social, and spiritual
aspects. The first step in providing palliative and supportive care is identifying the patients’ needs.
This study aimed to explore the palliative and supportive care needs of patients with β-TM.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted from April 2019 to December 2019. The study involved
in-depth semi-structured individual interviews with 20 individuals living with β-TM at a university
hospital in Ahvaz, Iran. The participants were selected through purposive sampling. Interviews
continued until the saturation of data. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed with
conventional content analysis following the steps recommended by Elo and Kyngäs using MAXQDA
software version 10.
Results: Five overarching categories, each with multiple subcategories, were identified: “physical
health needs,” “sexual and reproductive health needs,” “mental and emotional health needs,” “social
needs,” and “need for access to comprehensive health services.”
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, unmet needs are prevalent throughout the thalassemia
journey. Patients with β-TM require individual, psychosocial, and comprehensive healthcare support
to address their needs. Therefore, further research is necessary to develop a nursing care plan for β-TM
patients focusing on supportive-palliative care needs.

Highlights

Mehrnaz Ahmadi (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Mahin Gheibizadeh (Google Scholar) PubMed)

Keywords

References

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International Journal of Community Based Nursing & Midwifery
Volume 13, Issue 2
April 2025
Pages 113-125

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