Background: Thalassemic adolescents need information about their disease in order to
provide appropriate care, to decrease uncertainty, and to hold realistic expectations for their
selves.Aim of the study: the present study aimed to identify the effect of health instructions
on improving knowledge and practices of thalassemic adolescents at Zagazig university
hospital. Subjects and Methods: a quasi-experimental study was conducted. Setting &
Sample: sample of 50 thalassemic adolescents at the Pediatric Hematology Outpatient Clinic
at Zagazig University Hospital in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Tools: Three tools were used
in the present study as follows; structured interview questionnaire, clinical checklist and
health instructions to educate the studied adolescents about β thalassemia major and its
management. Results: the studied adolescents did not have satisfactory knowledge about
their disease and its management before implementation of the health instructions.
Thalassemic adolescent's knowledge, and practices scores had been improved significantly
after implementation of health instructions either immediately or 2 months later (P<0.01).
Conclusion: health instructions had improved thalassemic adolescents' knowledge and
practices. Recommendations: Based on the results of the present study continuous health
instructions and educational programs should be conducted for thalassemic adolescents about
the disease, its treatment regimen and care practices. Further researches are needed to study
the impact of health instructions on thalassemic children's compliance with their treatment
regimen.