Evaluation of Knowledge of Patients with Hemophilia Regarding Their Diseases and Treatment in Iran

Abstract

To the Editor, Hemophilia A and B are hereditary X-chromosomal recessive disorders affecting 1 in 5000 male births [1,2]. Hemophilia is classified as severe at F VIII / F IX <1 kIU L -1 , moderate at 1-5 kIU L -1 , and mild at >5-25 kIU L -1 [3]. During the mid-1970s hemophilia care underwent substantial improvement to provide more optimal disease management for bleeding prevention strategies and education programs. This led to better educational strategies for disease management [4,5]. Home therapy can be used to manage mild and moderate bleeding episodes and can help to achieve optimal treatment, resulting in decreased pain and hospital admissions for complications [6]. In this cross-sectional study, 30 patients with hemophilia A and B who were registered at the Hemophilia Center of Shiraz, Fars Province, southern Iran, were investigated between March and October of 2013. The data collection form consisted of two parts including demographic data and 22 specific questions regarding assessment of knowledge of the patients regarding the disease and treatment. In this latter section specific topics included appropriate treatment, disease transmission, physiotherapy application, management of bleeding, and the most common symptoms of bleeding. The correct answer to questions had a sum of 1 to 4 points. Some of the questions had more than one correct answer.