AimTo explore the lived experiences of adolescents with sickle cell disease, in Kingston, Jamaica.MethodA descriptive qualitative design was used for this research. In-depth interviews were conducted with six adolescents with sickle cell disease at a Sickle Cell Unit operated by the University of the West Indies. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and thematically analyzed.ResultsThe majority of the adolescents demonstrated a positive self-concept. They reported strong family, school, and peer support which made them feel accepted. All were actively engaged in social activities such as parties, but had challenges participating in sporting activities. Various coping strategies were utilized to address challenges of the disease including praying, watching television, and surfing the Internet.ConclusionSickle cell disease can be very challenging for the adolescent, but with positive self-concept and increased social support, especially from family and peers, these adolescents were able to effectively cope with their condition and live productive lives.

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Our results indicate that young adults with SCD should be discouraged from smoking and their asthma aggressively treated.

Disease knowledge, illness perceptions, and quality of life (QOL) were examined in 150 adolescents (mean age = 16.1 years, SD = 1.9; 49.3% males) with sickle cell disease (SCD). Females had higher knowledge (P = .004), lower QOL (P = .02), and perceived their illness to be more unpredictable (P = .03). Those with more severe disease perceived their illness to be unpredictable with worse outcomes. Those with higher knowledge scores perceived their illness to be chronic, made more sense of their illness, and perceived greater personal and treatment control. Final hierarchical regression model showed that secondary education as compared to primary education level (P < .001) was positively correlated whereas disease severity (P < .001), perceived unpredictability (P = .024), and negative emotions (P < .001) were negatively correlated with QOL. Health practitioners should assess adolescents’ illness perceptions and encouraging continuing schooling and addressing emotional/psychological problems could improve their QOL.

This mixed method study examines the prevalence of restraint usage; perception of nurses and doctors about the practice and whether they were trained to apply physical restraints. The physical restraint prevalence tools were used to observe 172 adult patients and conduct 47 chart audits in the medical-surgical wards and a psychiatric unit in November 2011. Focus group discussions with nurses and doctors were conducted. Quantitative data were analyzed using the SPSS and focus group discussions thematically analyzed. The prevalence of physical restraints between the medical-surgical wards was 75%. Nurses and medical doctors were not formally trained to apply restraint, and had learnt from peer observation. They expressed sadness, guilt, and fear when restraints are used and identified that inadequate institutional support existed. Restraint usage was high, and nurses and doctors experienced moral dilemma when they perceived that lack of formal training and inadequate institutional support may contribute to patient injury.