Web-based education and maternal awareness of Helicobacter Pylori infection in children with immune thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune hematological disorder characterized by decreased platelet counts. Emerging evidence suggests an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic ITP, with some patients showing improved platelet counts following eradication therapy. Mothers play a pivotal role in infection prevention and disease management, and web-based education may improve caregivers' knowledge, practices, and attitudes.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of a web-based educational program on mothers' knowledge, reported practices, and attitudes regarding Helicobacter pylori infection among children with immune thrombocytopenia.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group was employed. A convenience sample of 100 mothers of children with ITP was allocated to study and control groups (50 each). Data were collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire, a self-reported practice questionnaire, and a mothers' attitude Likert scale.

RESULTS

Following the intervention, the study group demonstrated significantly higher knowledge (10.04 ± 2.43 vs. 4.80 ± 3.55), reported practice (14.10 ± 4.44 vs. 6.02 ± 6.86), and attitude scores (31.14 ± 5.19 vs. 19.40 ± 2.96) than the control group (p < .001). ANCOVA demonstrated significant intervention effects on knowledge (F = 75.91, p < .001) and attitude scores (F = 306.45, p < .001). Significant positive correlations were observed between knowledge and practices (r = 0.346), knowledge and attitudes (r = 0.446), and practices and attitudes (r = 0.491) (p < .001).

CONCLUSION

The web-based educational program was associated with significant improvements in mothers' knowledge, practices, and attitudes regarding H. pylori infection among children with immune thrombocytopenia.