Cost-Effectiveness of Primary Stroke Prevention in Children with Sickle Cell Disease - Article Example

LITERATURE REVIEW RELATED HEALTH By Location Introduction The paper takes into perspective the research topic referred to as “The Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Primary Stoke Prevention in Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review and Economic Evaluation.” This literature review takes into consideration four critical factors, which include the area of interest of the research, the significance of the research area, the gaps in knowledge that exists in the research area, and literature in place to fill the void brought about by the gap in knowledge. Area of interest and rationale for inclusion in the papers The research will concentrate on the issue of stroke and sickle cell disease in children. Several surveys conducted in the previous periods strongly point out to the vulnerability of the children to sickle cell and stroke. Rumona, (2006) says that sickle cell refers to a condition in which there exists a recessive genetic disorder. The mutation of gene called beta-globin causes is he recessive genetic disorder. The mutation of gene refers to alteration of the hemoglobin molecules to assume a sickle shape. The sickle cell shaped adversely affects the flow of blood, which means that less oxygen is circulated in the body hence the condition. There are several databases that this research will use to tackle topic. The databases include MEDLINE, PUBMED and CINAHL. These databases are effective in ensuring that the research is conducted to a level where the users of the research paper can rely upon the findings (West, 2005). The databases are effective in that they contain rich information and article that touch on the topic in question. Professionals in various medical fields write the articles in the databases and as such their contributions on various medical topics are reliable. Significance of literature to the research topic The literatures are significant in many ways because they point out to various critical strategies that can be used to control and manage the sickle cell and stroke disease that is prevalent among the children (Rumona, 2010). The strategies are critical in that they can be implemented across the country or even across the globe to help contain sickle cell condition and overt stroke among the children in the society. The strategies are both cost and clinically effective in prevention and containment of sickle cell and overt stroke. It is worth noting that sickle-cell trait does not cause any serious health problems to the victim. Such traits are mostly inherited, where an individual inherits a gene that is affected by beta-globin. There is some form of correlation between sickle-cell anemia and stroke. It is worth noting that there exist correlation between and some form of stroke (Rumona, 2010). Stoke is a medical condition in which here exist an abrupt death of the cells of brain brought about by impairing of the flow of blood to the brain resulting to subsequent lack of enough oxygen to the brain cells. The result of lack of enough flow of blood to the cell is a condition referred to us neurological dysfunction. Research portrays that the complication causes about by sickle cell condition results to Overt Stroke. Nearly all instances of stroke in sickle cell disease are caused by “homozygous sickle cell disease” (HbSS). Taking a keener look at the trend of overt stroke in the population reveals some shocking statistics ((Hay et. al, 2009). It shows that children with sickle cell condition are more the number of adults suffering from the same condition. This further points out to the fact that there is enough children populations which are at risk of getting an overt stroke. In fact, the statistics point out that up to 70% of individual under the age of 20 years and with sickle cell, conditions are exposed to the risk of overt stroke. Gaps in knowledge of the topic The topic “The Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Primary Stoke Prevention in Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review and Economic Evaluation” have many gaps in knowledge according to the various literatures available on the issues regarding stroke and sickle-cell anemia. Despite the various strategies in place to contain, stoke resulting from the sickle cell condition, there exist an apparent gaps in ideas, which compromises the effectiveness of those strategies (Campbell, 2008). For instance, there was a survey referred to as Cochrane Survey, which was conducted in 2009 to show the effectiveness of transfusion of blood as prevention of primary stroke in children. The survey failed to show convincing recommendations and result analysis of how such transfusion helped in the containment of the overt stroke brought about by sickle cell condition. The survey failed to put into perspective various critical issues such as cost-benefit analysis of the transfusion; the costs ought to be put into perspective in terms of medical costs against the benefit of preventing stroke among children (West, 2005). Several strategies can be used to contain the overt stroke. According to the Oringanje review, the only effective way to address overt stroke brought about by sickle cell disease is “hematopoietic stem cell transplantation”. This is limiting, the research ought to show other methods that can be used to prevent primary stroke. Such strategies include hydroxycarbamide, antibiotic drugs, and supplemental oxygen. 4. How the literature supports an idea for a piece of research to fill this gap There are many pieces of articles from the database used for this research that makes an attempt at filling the gap in knowledge as regards to the issue of overt stroke. The research has defined objective and aim, which is to assess the cost-effectiveness and the clinical reliability of significant stroke prevention in children with the sickle cell disease (Hay et. Al. 2009). The children are at greater risk of suffering from overt stroke, and this is because the children are more vulnerable to sickle cell condition, which fuels overt stroke. The research will ensure that there is a systematic and economic review of the strategies in place to curb primary stroke. The various articles in the database go a long way to propose effective and comprehensive strategies that can be used to manage the stroke condition among the vulnerable group, which are the children (Dowling, 2011) Moreover, the literature reveals that it is critical that children are tested early to ascertain whether they have sickle cell condition. If it is determined that the children have sickle cell condition deliberate measures should be undertaken to ensure that there is primary prevention of stroke, which is a likely eventuality because the children are suffering from stroke. References Dowling, M. 2011. Acute Anemia Linked to Silent Strokes in Children. Journal of International Nursing, 83(2), 33-37. Hay et. Al 2009. Global Burden of Sickle Cell Anaemia in Children under Five, 2010–2050: Modelling Based on Demographics, Excess Mortality, and Interventions. AACN Nursing Scan in Critical Care, 8, 113-127. West, D. 2005. Passive Tobacco Smoke Increases Complications In Children With Sickle Cell Disease. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, 12(2), 112-120. Campbell, D. 2008. Potential Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease. International Emergency Nursing, 8, 88-112. Rumona, D. 2010. The Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Primary Stroke Prevention in Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review and Economic Evaluation. Journal of Nursing Education, 15(2), 56-98 Tanabe, O. 2012. Could an Old Antidepressant Treat Sickle Cell Disease? Journal of Research in Nursing, 16(2), 110-118. Appendix Authors and date Country & location(s) Sample Method Main findings Dowling, M. (2011) Oxford, UK. 200 people aged between 30-65 years random sample Questionnaire and observations Ignorance levels is high with regard to taking care of people with overt stroke Hay et. al(2009) Buckingham, USA 100 children aged 1-20 years Random sample Observation Children with sickle cell trait who are under medical care rarely get overt stroke Tanabe, O. (2012) Oxford, UK 60 households random sample In depth interview Very few parents bother to take their children to be tested for sickle cell West, D. (2005) Philadelphia, USA 100 children random sampling Observation Children with overt stroke also have sickle cell anemia Campbell, D. (2008) California, USA 250 Households In-depth interviews Children with sickle cell anemia who are under medication rarely develops overt stroke Rumona, D. (2010) Oxford, UK 200 Children In depth observation Children with sickle cell condition do not show any physical symptoms Read More