Effect of Family-Centered Empowerment Model Using Mobile Learning on the Quality of Life in Children with Thalassemia: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: A reciprocal relationship exists between disease and the quality of life experienced by individuals afflicted with chronic illnesses. Thalassemia is one such condition that accompanies individuals throughout their entire lives. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of a family-centered empowerment model utilizing mobile learning on the quality of life of children aged 6 - 12 years diagnosed with thalassemia. Methods: This study adopted a quasi-experimental design involving 172 patients with medical records at the Shafa Thalassemia Center in Ahvaz, Iran. Participants were selected based on inclusion criteria and subsequently divided into two groups: The intervention group and the control group, each comprising 86 individuals. Data collection tools included the children’s quality of life questionnaire (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory [Ped-SQL]) and researcher-designed questionnaires to measure parents’ awareness and self-efficacy in the field of thalassemia. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 21) and the Mann-Whitney U statistical test. Results: The results demonstrated a significant increase in the level of children’s quality of life following the educational intervention within the intervention group when compared to their pre-education status (P < 0.001). Specifically, 54 (62.7%) of the children who received the intervention exhibited a good level of quality of life after the intervention; however, both before and after the educational intervention, the quality of life of 46 (53.4%) of the children in the control group was reported as poor. Furthermore, the implementation of this model led to a significant increase in parents’ awareness (P < 0.001) and self-efficacy (P = 0.002). These improvements were also notably higher than the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that family-centered mobile learning programs targeted at parents of children with thalassemia can enhance and enrich the quality of life experienced by these children. This approach should be considered an integral part of the care provided to these patients.