Exploring self-management in adult sickle cell disease patients' at a Teaching Hospital in Ghana

Aim: To evaluate the relationships among self-efficacy, uncertainty, self-management and emergency hospital visits yearly among adult sickle cell disease patients’ and related demographics at a Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Design: A quantitative cross-sectional design. Method: A purposive and convenience sample of 85 adult clients from a sickle cell clinic in Ghana completed research instruments. Data collection occurred in March and April 2019. Instruments used were the self-efficacy scale, self-care agency scale, Mishel uncertainty scale and socio-demographic variables. Pearson correlation and regression techniques were used for analysis. Findings: The correlation results showed a low positive and significant correlation between self-efficacy and self-management (r = 0.357, p <.01), a significant moderate negative relationship between self-efficacy and uncertainty (r = −0.459, p <.01) and a significant low negative relationship between self-management and uncertainty. For the regression, employment (p =.003) and marital status (p =.002) significantly predicted self-management among others. Conclusion: Self-efficacy had positive and significant relationship with self-management. Similarly, patients with family support and employment experienced better self-management. Furthermore, patients with higher education and living with family had reduced illness uncertainty. Thus, the findings can improve self-care measures and mitigate illness uncertainty for better health outcomes.