Shift Health Study Shows Available Treatments Impede Wellbeing of People Living with Haemophilia and Their Caregivers

23 April 2019, TORONTO—Shift Health has led a new study showing that available treatments for people living with haemophilia A (PWHA) impact psychological wellbeing, employment opportunities and adherence to treatment regimens. Published in Haemophilia, the study reveals that alternate modes of administration and longer‐lasting treatment effects are desired improvements over current treatments.

The Shift Health team of Ryan Wiley, Charles Khoury, Adrian Snihur and Marni Williams worked with co-authors David Page of the Canadian Hemophilia Society, Nicole Graham of Health Sciences North Children’s Treatment Centre, Lori Laudenbach and Cindy Milne-Wren of the London Health Sciences Centre, and Jayson Stoffman of the University of Manitoba to gather qualitative insights from 20 PWHA and their caregivers across Canada through one-on-one interviews and focus groups. They identified several challenges, including administration of intravenous infusions, coordination of treatment schedules and ensuring adequate medication and supplies. Participants described how these challenges impact psychosocial wellbeing, physical health, personal/social life and work.

The paper concludes that considerations may help to inform decision‐making for policymakers and health systems around the true value of new therapies entering the haemophilia market.

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