Factors affecting compliance for iron chelating agents in thalassemic patients in Basrah province, Iraq

the remaining 32% of patients were live in urban areas. In the current study, the number of patients were taking oral chelating therapy (Exjad) was 116 patients (80%), while the number of patients taking injectable chelating therapy (Desferoxamine) was 29 patients (20%), (Figure 2). In the current study, we found that 42 patients (29%) had very accepted to their treatment and they are on regular way of treatment, 34 patients (23.4%) had not accept their treatment and they are on irregular AbstractObjectives: To assess factors that affect patient’s compliance for various type of chelating agents for thalassemic patients using direct questionnaires throughout 5 months period. Methods: A prospective screening study done on patients with diagnosed transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia treated on different types of iron chelating agents. Thalassemia unit in AL-Zahraa teaching hospital. Evaluation of patient’s preferability for chelation therapy, predictive values and reliability. Results: In the current study, we found that 88 patients (60%) had accept the treatment in different degrees while the remaining number of patients (57 patients, 39.3%) had not accept their treatment. Conclusion: In β-thalassemia compliance, monitoring using several methods is crucial as non-compliance is common and is associated with decreased survival. In addition, to have a good ideas about maintaining a reliable time for patient to continue on his chelating therapy.