Health Qual Life Out
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Health Qual Life Out · Jul 2017
Adherence to hydroxyurea, health-related quality of life domains, and patients' perceptions of sickle cell disease and hydroxyurea: a cross-sectional study in adolescents and young adults.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients have impaired domains of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Hydroxyurea is safe and efficacious in SCD; however, adherence is suboptimal, and patients' perceptions are poorly understood amongst adolescents and young adults (AYA). Study objectives were to: (1) examine patients' perceptions of SCD and hydroxyurea; and (2) explore the relationship of their perceptions to clinical characteristics, HRQOL domains and hydroxyurea adherence. ⋯ Dynamics influencing hydroxyurea adherence are multifactorial, and understanding patients' perceptions is critical to overcoming adherence barriers. Patients' favorable perceptions correlated with greater adherence and better HRQOL domain scores. Prospective evaluation of patients' perceptions of SCD and hydroxyurea in relation adherence, HRQOL domains and clinical outcomes is warranted.