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Parental and other factors associated with hydroxyurea use for pediatric sickle cell disease

Suzette O Oyeku1, M Catherine Driscoll, Hillel W Cohen

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York 10467, USA. soyeku@montefiore.org

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|November 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Parental knowledge and clinical site significantly impact hydroxyurea (HU) use for sickle cell disease (SCD) in children. Addressing safety concerns and improving understanding of HU benefits are crucial for effective treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology
  • Sickle Cell Disease Management
  • Pharmacological Treatments

Background:

  • Hydroxyurea (HU) is a highly effective treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD).
  • Despite accepted clinical practice, barriers hinder pediatric HU utilization.
  • Understanding these barriers is key to maximizing HU's benefits in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To survey parents of children (5-17 years) with SCD across five institutions.
  • To identify factors associated with hydroxyurea (HU) use in pediatric SCD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Survey administered to parents of children with SCD.
  • Data collected from 173 parent responses across five clinical sites.
  • Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses performed.

Main Results:

  • 38% of children were currently taking HU.
  • Key factors associated with HU use included parental knowledge of HU's effects, sickle genotype, and clinical site.
  • Common reasons for non-use included lack of provider recommendation, perceived lack of symptoms, and side effect concerns.

Conclusions:

  • Significant parental concerns regarding HU safety persist, even among current users.
  • Parental knowledge about HU, independent of demographics, is linked to its use.
  • Inter-institutional variability suggests site-specific influences on HU uptake, highlighting the need for improved parental education and safety counseling.
Abstract

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