Splenectomized Patients
Conditions
Keywords
Overwhelming post splenectomy infections, splenectomy, chemoprophylaxis, vaccination, encapsulated organisms
Brief summary
The goal of this trial is to evaluate compliance to booster vaccines and chemoprophylaxis in children who underwent a splenectomy and to assess the knowledge regarding this aspect before and after giving education.
Detailed description
The term overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI) refers to a rapid fatal syndrome occurring in individuals following removal of the spleen. OPSI can progress from a mild flu-like illness to fulminant sepsis in a short time period and has high mortality rate despite maximal treatment. The mainstays of infectious diseases prevention in asplenic subjects include: 1) patient and family education, 2) vaccinations, 3) prophylactic antimicrobial therapy in selected people, 4) early empirical antimicrobial therapy for febrile episodes, 5) early management of animal bites. Studies demonstrated that patients were neither compliant to postsplenectomy booster vaccines nor chemoprophylaxis with oral penicillin. Inadequate information and lack of sufficient education seem to be the major culprit behind this lack of awareness. The study will be carried out at the Pediatric Hematology Clinic, Cairo University Children Hospital. Candidates will be given questionnaires that will inquire about education level, disease type, age, duration of illness, age at splenectomy, duration of splenectomy , reception of preoperative vaccines (Pneumococcal, Hemophilus, Meningococcal vaccines) , compliance to postsplenectomy booster doses and penicillin prophylaxis , and if not what are the reasons for that. Patients will also be given written information educating them about OPSI, its red flags and the importance of post splenectomy care. Interview questionnaire will be given to patients before and after education.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALHealth education
Health education was given in the form of a printed colored brochure designed in easy-to-understand Arabic language. Participants were encouraged to read the brochure thoroughly and as many times as needed and to ask questions to the researchers if they had any.
Sponsors
Cairo University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients above 15 years who had undergone splenectomy * Caregivers of patients aged below 15 years who had undergone splenectomy
Exclusion criteria
* Illiterate candidates * Candidates who refuse to take part in the study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Candidates' knowledge about the different aspects of post splenectomy hazards and methods of care | At baseline and immediately after intervention | A questionnaire designed by the hematology team inquiring about different aspects of post splenectomy hazards and methods of care was handed to candidates. Each correct answer was given a score of 1. A score was summed up and a total score (as a percentage of correct answers) was given. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| To detect the rate of vaccination (defined as the percentage of people who have received vaccines) to pneumococcal, meningococcal and hemophilus influenza vaccine among the studied population (splenectomized patients). | At time of enrollment in the study | This was achieved through a questionnaire inquiring about the reception of pneumococcal, meningococcal and hemophilus influenza vaccine among other data designed and given to candidates. |
| To detect the percentage of patients who received post splenectomy chemoprophylaxis among the studied population. | At time of enrollment in the study | This was achieved through a questionnaire inquiring about the reception of chemoprophylaxis, handed to the candidates. |
Countries
Egypt
Outcome results
None listed