MOOD DISORDER IN GREEK SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WITH THALASSAEMIA MAJOR: CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Ioannis Koutelekos
Monday, July 1, 2024
Publication year:
2024
Author:
- Koutelekos Ioannis, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing A',Technological Educational Institute of Athens
Keywords index:
Pages: 285-289
Abstract:
Introduction: TChildren with certain factors, such as poor social integration, experience a higher rate of depression symptoms. School-age children with thalassemia major (SCTMs) are thought to have a high depression rate. Aim: The aim of the present brief research was to explore the impact of Greek SCTMs’ demographic characteristics, family relations, social integration and relationships with health professionals on their level of depression. Material-methods: Thirty-one Greek SCTMs, aged 7-12 years (median age:10 years), were invited to self-complete the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and an ad hoc questionnaire on their demographic characteristics (e.g. gender), health condition (e.g. additional underlying health conditions), poor social integration (e.g. school absenteeism) and relationships with healthcare workers (e.g. doctors). Regarding CDI scoring, the cut-off points of >15 was taken as threshold. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were computed. A p-value<0.05 was referred as statistically significant. Results: The 33/36(92%) Greek SCTMs fully completed the questionnaires. The 18/33(55%) were girls. Their median age stood at 10 years. The 8/33(24%) Greek SCTMs experienced mood disorder. Demographic characteristics had no impact on Greek SCTM level of depression. Greek SCTMs reporting that they have additional underlying health conditions were nearly 15 times as likely as those not reporting to experience mood disorder [2/3(67%) vs.6/30(20%), PR=14.0(95%CI:1.23- 168), p=0.034]. Greek SCTMs reporting that they were often absent from school were seven times as likely as those not reporting to experience mood disorder [4/7(57%) vs.4/26(15%), PR=7.33(95%CI:1.17-46.1), p=0.034]. Greek SCTMs reporting that they had difficulties in communicating with their doctor were more than 10 times as likely as those not reporting to experience mood disorder [7/17(41%)vs.1/16(6%), PR=10.5(95%CI:1.11-98.9), p=0.040]. Conclusions: Health professionals need to recognize and manage the impact of additional underlying medical conditions on Greek SCTMs emotional state. Emotional empowerment in Greek SCTMs at school may improve their attendance. Effective doctor-SCTM patient communication would be a central clinical function in alleviating emotional stress and building a therapeutic doctor-SCTM patient relationship.
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