The Effect of Family-Centered Empowerment Program on Self-Efficacy of Adolescents with Thalassemia Major: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

The title calls it a randomized controlled clinical trial, but the methods call it quasi-experimental. Only 35 adolescents were included in each group. The groups were not identical at baseline for access to knowledge of care principles and gender of active family members. The reported outcomes were self-efficacy questionnaires, not other patient outcomes. The program included several components at once, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The paper says participants were blind to allocation, but does not say the researcher was blind. The control group changed over six weeks, so some change may not be due to the program. Participants’ psychological state and events during the study may have affected responses. Low willingness of boys and active male family members to participate may limit generalisability.

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Do not conclude that family-centered empowerment improves self-efficacy in all adolescents with chronic disease. The study was small, described as quasi-experimental, relied on self-report, had baseline imbalance, and the program delivered several components at once, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.