Bibitayo Olayiwola
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, USA
Title: Assessing the level of knowledge of sickle cell disease (SCD) among health care providers (HCPs)
Biography
Biography: Bibitayo Olayiwola
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common hereditary blood disease that affects roughly 100,000 births in the United States. Globally, there are 300,000 SCD births, annually. According to the National Institute of Health, SCD affects 1 in 365 African Americans, while 1 in 13 has the trait. SCD also affect people of Hispanic descent, Asian, Middle Eastern and southern Europe. In 2006, WHO declared SCD as a public health priority. In SCD patients, red blood cells (RBCs) become coarse and sticky making it difficult for blood and oxygen circulation. RBCs stick to the vessel walls and cause a blockage which results in vaso-occlusive crises. The aim of this review was to assess the knowledge of healthcare providers (HCPs) that SCD patients encounter during a painful episode. This review identified and screened published literature based on prior inclusion and exclusion criteria. Searches from PubMed and Ovid identified 45 articles in total. Of the 45 published materials, six of them met the inclusion criteria. In conducting this review, it was noted that HCPs lack knowledge of treating SCD patients. Seventy-eight percent of primary care physicians (PCPs) do not display confidence in treating SCD patients while experiencing vaso-occlusive crises. Patients do not like visiting PCPs to seek advice on managing painful episodes. Emergency department (ED) physicians tend to be more comfortable with SCD patients than any other HCPs. Subsequently, patients often receive conflicting information and are perceived as drug seekers, which affect the quality of care and health outcomes. Since SCD is more prevalent among people of color, race tends to play a major role in the treatment process. In addition to the lack of knowledge and race, perceptions of HCPs also affect the wait time experienced by SCD patients while visiting the ED for crises. To minimize wait time, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has categorized SCD as a priority health condition. This review shed light on the need for HCPs to have access to abreast educational conferences on SCD. The improvement in knowledge and comfort level will aid in treatment rendered to patients.