en آموزش بهداشت Health Education پژوهشي Original Article <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><b><span style="color:#0070c0">Background:</span></b> Thalassemia is one of the most common hereditary hemoglobinopathies worldwide, particularly in the Middle East, and self-care education is an essential need for these patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a structured, WhatsApp-based self-care education program, grounded in Orem&#39;s self-care model, on the general health of adolescents with thalassemia..<b><span style="color:#0070c0"></span></b></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><b><span style="color:#0070c0">Methods:</span></b> This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test/post-test design with a control group. A total of 62 adolescents with thalassemia referred to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Ahwaz, Iran, were assigned to intervention (n=31) and control (n=31) groups. The intervention group received a 4-session (one face-to-face, three via WhatsApp) self-care education program based on Orem&#39;s model. Data were collected using the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and a demographic form. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to control for baseline differences, including body mass index (BMI), and to assess the intervention&#39;s effect.</span></span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><b><span style="color:#0070c0">Results:</span></b> The two groups were homogeneous in most demographic variables (p>0.05), except for BMI. ANCOVA results showed that after controlling for pre-intervention general health scores and BMI, the group effect on post-intervention general health was significant (F=634.19, p<0.0001, &eta;&sup2;=0.918), indicating that the intervention explained over 91% of the variance in outcomes. The intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in general health (mean score decreased from 43.16 to 29.09, indicating better health), while the control group showed a significant worsening (mean score increased from 43.35 to 47.00). Improvements were observed across all subscales: somatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction (all p<0.0001).</span></span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><span style="unicode-bidi:embed"><b><span style="color:#0070c0">Conclusions</span><span dir="RTL" lang="FA"><span style="color:#0070c0">:</span></span></b><b> </b>A structured, WhatsApp-based self-care education program based on Orem&#39;s model significantly improved the general health and its dimensions (somatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, social dysfunction) in adolescents with thalassemia. However, these findings are limited by the quasi-experimental design and the lack of long-term follow-up. This low-cost, accessible method is recommended for use by nurses in pediatric thalassemia units..</span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp;</div> Thalassemia, Beta Thalassemia, Self-Care, General Health, Adolescents, WhatsApp-based education, Tele-nursing 0 0 http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1213-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Houshang Alijani Renani alijani-h@ajums.ac.ir 100319475328460015026 100319475328460015026 Yes Department of Pediatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Mahbubeh Asadi mahboobeh.asadi71ab@gmail.com 100319475328460015027 100319475328460015027 No Department of Pediatric Nursing, Izeh Shohada Hospital, Khuzestan University of Medical Sciences, Khuzestan, Iran. Kourosh Zarea Zare_k@ajums.ac.ir 100319475328460015028 100319475328460015028 No Nursing Care Research Center in Chronic Diseases, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Mohammad Hosein Haghighizadeh Hoseinhaghighizadeh@gmail.com 100319475328460015029 100319475328460015029 No Department of Biostatistics, School of Health. Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Science.Ahvaz.Iran.