PhD Degree Awarded to Ms. Maimona Futaini in Educational Psychology

Ms. Maimona Ahmed Futaini Abu Hadi was awarded a PhD degree in the major of in Educational Psychological Counseling for her dissertation titled “The Effectiveness of a Counseling Program in Reducing Anxiety and Depression Among Children with Leukemia at Kuwait Hospital in the Capital Secretariat (Sana’a),” which was submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education – Sana’a University. The PhD dissertation defense was held on Sunday, Dhu al-Hijjah 26, 1446 Hijri, corresponding to June 22, 2025.

The PhD Viva-Voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Post-Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:

#	Committee Members	Designation	University	Position
1	Prof. Ahmed Abdullah Al-Dumaini	External Examiner	Amran University	Chair
2	Prof. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Soufi	Main Supervisor	Sana’a University	Member
3	Assoc. Prof. Amat Al-Razzaq Mohammed Al-Washali	Internal Examiner	Sana’a University	Member

This dissertation aimed to identify the effectiveness of a counseling program in reducing depression among children with leukemia at Kuwait Hospital in the Capital Secretariat (Sana’a).

The research yielded several key findings, including:

The average overall level of anxiety and depression among children with leukemia at Kuwait Hospital was 2.93, indicating a high level of distress.
The counseling program had a significant impact in reducing anxiety and depression among children with leukemia at Kuwait Hospital.
Friedman’s test revealed statistically significant differences between the three measurements (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up) across all areas. This indicates that the children’s anxiety and depression levels significantly changed over time as a result of the program.

Based on the findings, the dissertation recommended the following:

Kuwait Hospital in the Capital Secretariat (Sana’a) should integrate psychological and behavioral counseling programs into the medical treatment plan within the hospital’s leukemia center.
Kuwait Hospital and Other Cancer Treatment Centers should provide access to qualified psychological therapists.
Ministry of Public Health should establish specialized centers for psychological research dedicated to the care of children with cancer in hospitals and specialized cancer treatment units. The researcher also recommends adopting psychological counseling programs to alleviate stress for caregivers and address various problems arising from cancer diagnosis.

The PhD dissertation was examined and recommended by the Viva-Voce Committee for acceptance and approval. The PhD defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, interested students, the candidate’s colleagues, and family members.