Effect of Health Education Program on Care Provided by Mothers to Their Children with Leukemia

Leukemia is the most common childhood malignancy that starts in early blood forming cells
found in the bone marrow. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of health
education program on care provided by mothers to their children with leukemia. Study Design: A
quasi-experimental design was used to conduct this study. Setting: This study was conducted at
the Outpatient Clinic of 57357 Hospital. Subjects: A purposeful sample of 60 children and their
mothers were selected. Tools: Three tools: 1) An Interviewing questionnaire to assess
demographic characteristics for children with leukemia and their mothers, children health needs
and problems, mothers' knowledge about leukemia. 2) An Observational checklist to assess
mothers' practices. 3) Medical records for children’s health status. Results: 73.3% of mothers
had unsatisfactory knowledge about leukemia and its treatment, and 65% of them, their total
practice about the care provided for their children with leukemia not done pre program while post
program, it showed highly statistically significant improvement (X2 = 14.7368 at P < 0.0001).
Also, for around half of children with leukemia their physical, psychological, personal, and social
health needs were not achieved and they had severe health problems related to side effects of
chemotherapy pre program. Conclusion: The study concluded that there were statistically
significant efficacy of the educational program on improving the mothers' knowledge and
practices about the care provided to their children with leukemia. As well, a highly statistically
significant achievement of total children's health needs post educational program but
insignificantly related to reducing their health problems. Recommendations: The study
recommended that periodic health education and training program for all mothers of children with
leukemia to improve their knowledge and practices about the care provided to their children at
outpatient clinic or after chemotherapeutic session.