title: The comprehensiveness care of sickle cell disease.
abstract: Millions of people across the world have sickle cell disease (SCD). Although the true prevalence of SCD in Europe is not certain, London (UK) alone had an estimated 9000 people with the disorder in 1997. People affected by SCD are best managed by a multidisciplinary team of professionals who deliver comprehensive care: a model of healthcare based on interaction of medical and non-medical services with the affected persons. The components of comprehensive care include patient/parent information, genetic counselling, social services, prevention of infections, dietary advice and supplementation, psychotherapy, renal and other specialist medical care, maternal and child health, orthopaedic and general surgery, pain control, physiotherapy, dental and eye care, drug dependency services and specialist sickle cell nursing. The traditional role of haematologists remains to co-ordinate overall management and liase with other specialities as necessary. Co-operation from the affected persons is indispensable to the delivery of comprehensive care. Working in partnership with the hospital or community health service administration and voluntary agencies enhances the success of the multidisciplinary team. Holistic care improves the quality of life of people affected by SCD, and reduces the number as well as length of hospital admissions. Disease-related morbidity is reduced by early detection and treatment of chronic complications. Comprehensive care promotes awareness of SCD among affected persons who are encouraged to take greater control of their own lives, and achieves better patient management than the solo efforts of any single group of professionals. This cost-effective model of care is an option for taking haemoglobinopathy services forward in the new millennium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospitals Trust, London, UK. Iheanyi.Okpala@gstt.sthames.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Iheanyi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okpala
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Westerdale
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jegede
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: Sadie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.forename: Hilda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Costello-Binger
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: Collis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rochester-Peart
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Helps
authors.forename: Emense
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tulloch
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akpala
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bewley
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abbs
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy