Health-Related Quality of Life and Predictive Role of Self-Efficacy in Iranian Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Although several studies have been done on quality of life of patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), there is little research on the correlation of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with self-efficacy in these patients. We aimed to determine the association between HRQoL and self-efficacy in patients with SCD and to explore the role of self-efficacy and demographic-clinical variables in a sample of Iranian patients with SCD. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 97 SCD patients who had medical records in Shafa Hospital affiliated to the Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences were recruited. Data were collected using the Short-Form Health Survey SF-36 (RAND 36-item), the Sickle Cell Self-Efficacy Scale (SCSES) and a demographicclinical information questionnaire during February to July 2013. Results: The mean scores of physical and mental component summary of the SF-36 (PCS and MCS) was 45.58±19.94 and 48.1±19.63, respectively which were low in patients with SCD. Moreover, 50.5% of the patients reported a moderate level of self-efficacy (24.42±6.59). Regression models showed that self-efficacy was the most important predictor of the mental component summary (MCS) (β: 0.48, P=0.001). With a slight difference, it was the second strongest predictor of the physical component summary (PCS) (β: 0.28, P=0.003), after the variable of “renal disease history” in the context of SCD (β: -0.30, P=0.001). However, “blood transfusion history” was a common predictor for both the PCS (β: 0.20, P=0.03) and the MCS (β: 0.26, P=0.001) components of the HRQoL. Conclusion: The results of this study can assist health policy makers and clinicians to plan holistic interventions by focusing on the level of self-efficacy in SCD patients.