Introduction: Long-term survival in beta-thalassaemia major is strongly influenced by adherence to iron chelation therapy. Identifying factors that influence the compliance remains the first step in improving iron chelation therapy. Objective:Due to increase in number of non-compliance to iron chelation therapy for patients in Hospital Keningau, Keningau, Sabah, we aim to evaluate the compliance, identify the factors and assess disease knowledge of patients so that preventive measurement can be formulated. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Hospital Keningau by a combination of self-administered and interviewer-administered survey. The survey consists of 3 domains – knowledge assessment based on 10 items, identifying factors for non-compliance and compliance to treatment. Percentage of compliance was measured based on amount taken reported by patients over the intended therapy. Association between knowledge and compliance was measured using Pearson’s Chi Square. Results: A number of 52 patients completed the survey. The average age was 18 ± 4.77 years. The mean knowledge score was 6.15 out of 10. The percentage of compliance to desferrioxamine was 78.2 ± 30.2% while for deferiprone it was 72.4 ± 32.6%. There were no association between knowledge score and compliance to desferrioxamine (p = 0.893) and deferiprone (p = 0.874). Lazziness and pain were the main reasons for non-compliance chosen by patients on desferrioxamine ABSTRACTCompliance and Barriers of Beta-Thalassaemia Patients towards Iron Chelation Therapy in Hospital Keningau, SabahElfira Cassandra Enderik1*, Syahrizal Azizi bin Shaharudin1, Gan Siaw Yun1, Tan Wei Chong1, Arthur James Adong1, Jackie Ho Chit Khong1, Shamadevi Pasupathi1, Maggie Low May Yee1, Sivaraj Raman1Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences (BJMS), Special Issue, Volume 2, March 2019: 7 – 81 Pharmacy Department, Hospital Keningau, Keningau, Sabah, Malaysia* Corresponding author’s email: elfira_11@yahoo.comBorneo Journal of Medical SciencesBJMSKeywords:thalassaemia, compliance, knowledge, factor NMRR Research ID: NMRR-18-404-39581
8Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences (BJMS),Special Issue, Volume 2, March 2019: 7 – 811 (3): 35 – 38(19.2%) while for deferiprone it was lazziness (23.1%) and side effects (19.2%). The poor compliance was reflected on the high average ferritin levels of respondents (7573 ± 5749). Conclusion: Even though most adolescents had knowledge about their disease, it did not affect patients’ compliance to therapy. Lazziness was the most prominent factor for non-compliance in adolescents in our study. This might be because iron chelation therapy is usually seen as a hindrance to independence. Thus in order to improve compliances, further study is needed to investigate the association between compliance and the affecting factors identified in our study.