Determination of hope levels of adolescents with thalassemia major

This study was planned with the aim of determining hope levels and its relationship between socio-demographic variables of adolescents with thalassemia major. The universe of study, pediatric hematology outpatient clinics followed with thalassemia major adolescents 12-18 years age group and healthy adolescents both primary and secondary schools in Muğla City. This research was conducted at the following places: Ege University Childen's Hospital, Education and Research Hospital of children's health and surgery Dr. Behçet Uz, Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Pediatric Hematology Clinics of Aydın and Denizli State Hospitals and in the second stage of Muğla 75th Anniversary Primary School and Turgut Reis Anatolian High School.The research sample consisted, 112 thalassemia major adolescents in 12-18 years age group selected with improbability sampling method (study group) and 121 healthy adolescents in 12-18 years age group (control group) matched with the thalassemic adolescents' age and gender. Research data were collected by socio-demographic questionnaire for Adolescents with thalassemia, and Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents. Data were evaluated by descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, variance and regression analysis. There were not statistically significant difference Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents scale mean scores between the adolescents with thalassemia and healthy adolescents (p>0.05). Statistically significant difference was determined between Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents scale mean scores and educational status, family type, number of siblings, place of residence, family income, parents' age, parents' employment status and the education level of mothers of adolescents with thalassemia major (p>0.05). According to multiple regression analysis; adolescents' fathers graduation level which elementary/ junior school was associated with lower Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents scale scores (p<0.05) and adolescents' mothers graduation level which elementary/ junior school, being lost a close because of thalassemia, having blood transfusion in two weeks range were not associated with lower Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents scale scores of adolescents (p<0.05). According to these results, nurses should plan interventions for increasing hope levels of adolescents with thalassemia major and awareness level of health care professionals should be increased about the identification of risk factors associated with hope levels. Key Words: Adolescent, Nursing care, Hopefulness, Thalassemia major