Personal social factors influential on the self‐efficacy of the patients with thalassemia: A qualitative study

Context: Self-efficacy is one of the important determinants of the behaviors that influence the physical and psychological health among patients with chronic medical conditions. Aims: This study was aimed to investigate the factors that influence the self-efficacy of patients with thalassemia. Setting and Design: This was a qualitative study using a directed content analysis design. The research population consisted of the patients with thalassemia major who referred to the thalassemia ward of the medical training centers in Iran for blood transfusion. The research sample included 16 patients with thalassemia major who were selected using the purposeful sampling method with maximum variation. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from 16 patients with thalassemia major, using a semi-structured interview in 2018–2019. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using the Elo and Kyngäs method and MAXQDA10 software (Berlin, Germany). Results: The analysis of the data resulted in 70 initial codes and the emergence of five generic categories including: (1) the performance accomplishments, (2) the vicarious experience, (3) the verbal persuasion, (4) the physiological states, (5) the self-persuasion. Conclusions: Factors influential on the creation and promotion of the self-efficacy of the patients with thalassemia include the performance accomplishments, the vicarious experience, the verbal persuasion, the physiological states, and the self-persuasion. Self-efficacy affects the onset and persistence of behavior. Therefore, designing practical programs containing factors affecting the self-efficacy of the patients with thalassemia seems necessary to improve quality of life and physical and mental health of these patients.