Adolescent boys with sickle cell disease: A qualitative study

Sickle cell disease is a recessively inherited blood disorder associated primarily with black communities within the UK. This study investigated the experiences of adolescent boys with this condition. Eight participants were interviewed and their responses analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The emergent themes were watchfulness, holding onto normality, and connecting and disengaging. This analysis illustrated connections between physical symptoms, emotional responses and the development concerns of this participant group. The findings have implications for the nature and style of the delivery of health care services.