Feasibility and Acceptability of Utilizing a Single Session Problem-Solving Intervention with Caregivers of Pediatric Patients Receiving Chronic Transfusion to Treat Sickle Cell Disease

INTRODUCTION: For patients and caregivers of patients receiving chronic red blood cell transfusions (CT) to treat sickle cell disease (SCD), few studies have investigated the use of single session interventions, and none to address problem-solving in a single session. Feasibility and acceptability of such an intervention with caregivers of pediatric patients who receive CT to treat SCD were investigated. Efficacy was also explored. METHOD: Participants were twenty caregivers (95% female; 95% Black/African American, Mage = 42.45 years) and patients (55% male; 95% Black/African American, Mage = 13.55 years) who were approached either during their CT appointment or via a HIPAA-approved telehealth platform while at home. Participants in the intervention group received a single session problem-solving intervention (SSPSI) during their second visit, and all participants completed self-report measures during each of the four research visits. RESULTS: Data indicate 54% of participants approached agreed to participate in the study and 80% of participants who enrolled were retained through the end of the study. Regarding acceptability, 100% of participant pairs in the intervention group found the intervention to be acceptable at each visit of the study. DISCUSSION: Caregivers and patients were able to utilize this patient and family-centered, culturally sensitive SSPSI to identify strategies to address problems they were experiencing. The study demonstrated feasibility and acceptability of the SSPSI. Further investigation is needed to further investigate efficacy of such an intervention with this population. Utilizing a SSPSI with caregivers and patients who receive CT to treat SCD appears to be feasible and acceptable, within the specific setting investigated, in addressing problem-solving with this patient population.