Sumedha Arya1, Pamela Wilton2, David Page2, Laurence Boma-Fischer3,4, Georgina Floros4,5, Rochelle Winikoff6, Jerome Teitel4, Katie Dainty7,8, Michelle Sholzberg9,10. 1. Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. Canadian Hemophilia Society, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 3. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 4. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 5. Department of Nursing, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 6. Division of Hematology-Oncology, CHU Ste-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 7. North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 8. Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 9. Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 10. Department of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Women with inherited bleeding disorders experience excessive bleeding that may impair their quality of life, making early diagnosis and treatment critical. However, the experiences of these women regarding access to care has been minimally described. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate and describe barriers to care for women with bleeding disorders. This study was a continuation of our previous work describing the lived experiences of these women. METHODS: We undertook a qualitative descriptive study. Inclusion criteria for study enrollment were the following: age ≥18 years, English-speaking, and confirmed diagnosis of an inherited bleeding disorder. Women were recruited across Canada by treating health-care providers and members of the Canadian Hemophilia Society. Telephone interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview style, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 15 participants were interviewed. Median age was 31 years (range 24-70 years). Four primary themes surrounding barriers to care emerged: (1) lack of health-care provider awareness of bleeding disorders, (2) health-care provider dismissal of symptoms, (3) limited access to specialized care and treatment plans, and (4) need for self-education and advocacy. DISCUSSION: We found that women with inherited bleeding disorders experience tension with the health-care system, feeling unheard and poorly understood. Based on our findings, we identified key knowledge and care gaps that could be addressed with awareness and educational initiatives: patient education on vaginal blood loss, updated medical curricula, clear referral guidelines, and telehealth initiatives for patients residing far from hemophilia treatment centers.
INTRODUCTION:Women with inherited bleeding disorders experience excessive bleeding that may impair their quality of life, making early diagnosis and treatment critical. However, the experiences of these women regarding access to care has been minimally described. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate and describe barriers to care for women with bleeding disorders. This study was a continuation of our previous work describing the lived experiences of these women. METHODS: We undertook a qualitative descriptive study. Inclusion criteria for study enrollment were the following: age ≥18 years, English-speaking, and confirmed diagnosis of an inherited bleeding disorder. Women were recruited across Canada by treating health-care providers and members of the Canadian Hemophilia Society. Telephone interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview style, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 15 participants were interviewed. Median age was 31 years (range 24-70 years). Four primary themes surrounding barriers to care emerged: (1) lack of health-care provider awareness of bleeding disorders, (2) health-care provider dismissal of symptoms, (3) limited access to specialized care and treatment plans, and (4) need for self-education and advocacy. DISCUSSION: We found that women with inherited bleeding disorders experience tension with the health-care system, feeling unheard and poorly understood. Based on our findings, we identified key knowledge and care gaps that could be addressed with awareness and educational initiatives: patient education on vaginal blood loss, updated medical curricula, clear referral guidelines, and telehealth initiatives for patients residing far from hemophilia treatment centers.