Knowledge and health beliefs of Jamaican adolescents with sickle cell disease.

Background: The adolescent stage of life is generally perceived to be a challenging period, which may be magnified when a chronic illness such as sickle cell disease (SCD) is present. In this study, we sought to determine the knowledge and health beliefs of Jamaican adolescents with SCD as these factors may impact their self-management skills.

Procedure: An interviewer-administered questionnaire was completed by 117 patients (93 SS:24 SC; 48 males:69 females) between the ages of 15 and 19 years at their routine health maintenance visit to the Sickle Cell Unit, UWI.

The impact of recurrent acute chest syndrome on the lung function of young adults with sickle cell disease.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of recurrent acute chest syndrome (ACS) episodes on the lung function of young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). Our prospective study included 80 SCD adults [26 with recurrent acute chest syndrome (ACS)] and 80 ethnically matched controls aged between 18 and 28 years. Lung function (spirometry and lung volumes) was measured and the results were expressed as the percentage predicted for height.

Depression and loneliness in Jamaicans with sickle cell disease.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the commonest genetic disorder in Jamaica, and has life-long implications for those afflicted with it. It is well known that depression and loneliness may exist in those with chronic diseases, but the coexistence of depression and loneliness in people with sickle cell disease is not clear. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with depression and loneliness in the Jamaica Sickle Cell Cohort Study and its age and sex matched controls.