Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Sickle Cell Disease: The Role Of Self-Care Management, Nadine Matthie

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disorder in the United States. Approximately 90% of the hospitalizations in this patient population occur due to the most common complication, pain crises. Prevention of these crises is therefore essential and requires the patient to assume an active role in his or her disease management. Studies suggest that further research is needed to examine the self-care management process and to identify factors influencing self-care behaviors. The relationships among these factors must be clearly defined before interventions to improve self-care management can be determined. The aims of the study were threefold. The …