Effect of Narration and Painting Methods on the Self-concept of Children with Thalassemia Major Before and Three Months After Intervention: A Randomised Clinical Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Children with thalassemia are at risk for mental and behavioural disorders due to their reduced quality of life. Interventions to improve their mental health have shown good outcomes. The narration and painting intervention approaches have a positive effect on self-concept. Aim: To compare the effect of two methods of narration and painting on the self-concept of children with thalassemia. Materials and Methods: This randomised clinical trial with post-test/pretest method was carried out on 35 children with thalassemia major, admitted to hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Children who met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups based on the intervention: narration (n=19, six sessions of 90 minutes) and painting (n=16, six sessions of 30 minutes, drawing whatever they wanted). At the end of the first session, and three months later, the Piers-Harris questionnaire was used for self-concept assessment. To analyse the data Paired t-test and Chi-squared test were used. Results: The mean age in the painting group was 12.4 years, and in the narration group was 12.6 years. Girls constituted 43.9% (n=9) in the painting group, and 31.6% (n=6) in the narration group. The mean score of self-concept in the children belonging to the narration group was 46.46±7.74 before the intervention, which increased to 48.10±9.61 after the intervention (p=0.579). In the painting group, the mean score of self-concept in the preintervention phase was 42.44±6.30, and increased to 48.87±9.41 after the intervention (p=0.033). Conclusion: The implementation of two methods of narration and painting in children with thalassemia major had a favourable effect on their self-concept. Considering that various psychotherapy methods are used to help patients to adapt to complications of their disease, narration and painting therapies as a non invasive, affordable and low-cost methods can also be used in this regard.