Improving Self-Efficacy in Sickle Cell Disease Patients

Background: Individuals with sickle cell disease experience severe side effects, inevitable complications, and the need for lifelong complex treatment adherence which causes poor healthcare related quality of life. The modifiable trait of self-efficacy motivates patients to manage their illness and subsequently improves health outcomes. Purpose: To increase self-efficacy in sickle cell patients through a community resource-based intervention. Methods: Based on interventions from evidence-based studies to improve self-efficacy, a quality improvement project including a social determinant of health assessment, provision of supportive patient resources, and follow up with patients at a Baltimore comprehensive sickle cell center was completed over 4 months. Conducting the Sickle Cell Self-Efficacy Scale before and after the intervention assessed the effect of the intervention. Results: Nine patients participated and received the intervention. Statistical analysis through a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test showed no significant change in self-efficacy for the sample when compared before and after the intervention. Discussion: There was a trend of five out of nine of the subjects having an increased Sickle Cell Self-Efficacy Scale score after the binder intervention although this tendency was not supported statistically. Barriers included small sample size, inability to control subject binder usage, and loose correlation with the intervention and outcome variable. Conclusion: The importance of addressing social determinants of health was emphasized through trends measured and positive feedback from patients, while contributing to development of a novel standard of care community support practice in this setting