To tell or not to tell: haemophiliacs' views on their employment prospects.

As part of a study on the employment situation of haemophiliacs carried out by four Haemophilia Centres in the United Kingdom, the patients were invited to express their own views on their employment problems and prospects. 225 patients, most of them severely or moderately affected by the disease, made comments which were classified into eight categories. The results show that one third of the patients were preoccupied with whether or not to tell the employer about their condition. The ignorance of employers about haemophilia and of the benefits of self-treatment was also emphasised by many patients. It appears that education of both potential employers and of the public is essential for the rehabilitation of, and the provision of, satisfactory working conditions for the haemophiliac.