Theoretical Knowledge Versus Clinical Readiness: Why Do Medical Graduates Struggle to Manage Common Pediatric Hemoglobinopathies?

Hesabi, Amir

doi:10.22034/meb.2026.604102.1150

Theoretical Knowledge Versus Clinical Readiness: Why Do Medical Graduates Struggle to Manage Common Pediatric Hemoglobinopathies?

Document Type : Letter to the Editor

Author

Amir Hesabi

Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.

10.22034/meb.2026.604102.1150

Abstract

Thalassemia and sickle cell disease are important inherited hemoglobin disorders that require more than theoretical knowledge for safe clinical management. Medical graduates should be able to recognize patterns of anemia, interpret basic hematological tests, identify acute complications, initiate appropriate first-line management, educate families, and arrange timely referral. However, undergraduate medical education may not adequately prepare graduates for real-world clinical decisions involving transfusion-dependent thalassemia, suspected transfusion reactions, or acute presentations of sickle cell disease. In Iran, where thalassemia remains a substantial health concern and hemoglobinopathies exhibit regional variation, this gap warrants particular attention. This letter highlights the mismatch between theoretical learning and clinical readiness and proposes competency-based, case-based, and performance-oriented educational strategies.

Keywords

Clinical readiness

Medical education

Pediatric hemoglobinopathies

Thalassemia

Sickle cell disease