Care models in the management of haemophilia: a systematic review

Evaluation of an e-Learning Program for Community Pharmacists for Dispensing Emicizumab (Hemlibra) in France: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Since June 2021, patients with hemophilia A with antifactor VIII inhibitors and those with severe hemophilia A without antifactor VIII inhibitors treated with Hemlibra have had to choose between a community or hospital pharmacy. The French reference center for hemophilia developed the HEMOPHAR e-learning program for community pharmacists for dispensing emicizumab.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the efficiency and safety of this new care pathway by assessing the HEMOPHAR e-learning program.

METHODS

The methodology is based on Kirkpatrick's model for evaluating the immediate reaction of trained community pharmacists (level 1), their level of acquired knowledge (level 2), and their professional practice after 3 months of dispensation (level 3).

RESULTS

The HEMOPHAR e-learning program reached a large audience, with 67% (337/502) of the eligible community pharmacists following it. The immediate reaction was overall satisfying. High rates of engagement were reported with 63.5% (214/337) to 73.3% (247/337) of completed training modules, along with high rates of success with quizzes of 61.5% (174/337) to 95.7% (244/337). We observed that 83.9% (193/230) of the community pharmacists needed less than 2 attempts to pass the quiz of the module related to professional practice, while the other quizzes required more attempts. Advice on compliance and drug interactions were most frequently provided to patients by the community pharmacists.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests ways to improve the training of community pharmacists and to optimize coordination with treatment centers. This study also reports on the feasibility of switching to a community pharmacy in a secure pharmaceutical circuit, including in the context of a rare bleeding disease.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05449197; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05449197.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/43091.

Effectiveness of care models for chronic disease management: A scoping review of systematic reviews

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a scoping review of models of care for chronic disease management to identify potentially effective components for management of chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS

Information sources: Systematic searches of three databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) from January 2010 to May 2021.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting on the effectiveness of the Chronic Care Model (CCM), collaborative/integrated care, and other chronic disease management models.

DATA

Target diseases, model components used (n = 11), and six outcomes (disease-specific, generic health-related quality of life and functioning, adherence, health knowledge, patient satisfaction, and cost/health care use).

SYNTHESIS

Narrative synthesis, including proportion of reviews documenting outcome benefits.

RESULTS

More than half (55%) of the 186 eligible reviews focused on collaborative/integrated care models, with 25% focusing on CCM and 20% focusing on other chronic disease management models. The most common health conditions were diabetes (n = 22), depression (n = 16), heart disease (n = 12), aging (n = 11), and kidney disease (n = 8). Other single medical conditions were the focus of 22 reviews, multiple medical conditions of 59 reviews, and other or mixed mental health/behavioral conditions of 20 reviews. Some type of quality rating for individual studies was conducted in 126 (68%) of the reviews. Of reviews that assessed particular outcomes, 80% reported disease-specific benefits, and 57% to 72% reported benefits for the other five types of outcomes. Outcomes did not differ by the model category, number or type of components, or target disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is a paucity of evidence for TBI per se, care model components proven effective for other chronic diseases may be adaptable for chronic TBI care.

Current Status and Challenges in Delivering Comprehensive Care for Patients with Hemophilia

The importance of comprehensive care as a treatment strategy for patients with hemophilia is recognized worldwide. Comprehensive care entails addressing full spectrum of medical and psychological aspects impacting both patients and their families. The primary objective of comprehensive care for individuals with hemophilia is to enable them to lead their daily lives just as anyone else would. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to have a positive and collaborative approach across various healthcare disciplines. This extends beyond clinical specialists, encompassing pediatricians, hematologists, orthopedic surgeons, dental and oral surgeons, gynecologists, nurses, physical therapists, clinical psychologists, and other professionals from diverse fields. This review article discusses the current status and challenges associated with comprehensive care for patients with hemophilia. We categorize these challenges as follows: hemophilic arthritis, rehabilitation, oral care, transitioning from pediatric to adult care, addressing carrier issues, and providing psychological care. There is still substantial work to be undertaken in addressing these hurdles and advancing the quality of comprehensive care for hemophilia patients.

Accreditation model of European Haemophilia Centres in the era of novel treatments and gene therapy

INTRODUCTION

The international certification of haemophilia centres in Europe is run by the European Association of Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD) and European Haemophilia Consortium (EHC) since 2013. The centres are designated as European Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centres (EHCCC) or European Haemophilia Treatment Centres (EHTC), based on the specific requirements which evaluate centres' ability to provide care for patients with haemophilia and allied disorders.

AIM

To establish the new protocol for accreditation of European Haemophilia Centres.

METHODS

EAHAD, in collaboration with EHC, established Accreditation Working Group with the aim to define necessary measures to safeguard quality and improvement of bleeding disorders care throughout Europe and to build a novel model for accreditation of European Haemophilia Centres.

RESULTS

The European guidelines for certification of haemophilia centres have been updated to guidelines for the accreditation and include all the requirements regarding facilities, laboratory and personnel needed for optimal management of novel treatment options, including the introduction of the hub-and-spoke model for delivery of gene therapy. A pilot project for the accreditation of haemophilia centres including on-site audit has been designed.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of the novel accreditation protocol of the haemophilia treatment and haemophilia gene therapy centres has been made to further improve the quality of care for patients with haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders.

A systematic review on quality of life (QoL) of patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) who underwent pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC)

Background

Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) has recently emerged as a palliative alternative for patients with unresectable peritoneal metastasis (PM). Quality of life (QoL) has increasingly been used as an endpoint to evaluate treatment outcomes. This review aims to identify evidence on how PIPAC would impact the QoL of PM patients.

Content

A systematic review was performed on articles identified from Medline, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and Web of Sciences. A meta-analysis was conducted on further selected studies. ACROBAT-NRSI was attempted to assess the risk of bias (RoB).

Summary

Nine studies using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire to assess QoL after repeated PIPAC cycles were identified. Majority was found to be moderately biased and a great extent of heterogeneity was observed. Four studies on PM from either gastric cancer (GC) or epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) were included for meta-analysis. In 31 GC patients and 104 EOC patients, QoL remained stable in 13/14 and 11/14 EORTC QLQ-C30 scales. PIPAC was inferior to cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) in global QoL and functioning but superior in symptom reduction.

Outlook

PIPAC is a well-tolerated option for most GC and EOC patients with irresectable PM. Future trials are warranted to confirm the findings.

Haemophilia in France: Modelisation of the Clinical Pathway for Patients

Process-of-care studies participate in improving the efficiency of the care pathway for patient with haemophilia (CPPH) and rationalize the multidisciplinary management of patients. Our objective is to establish a current overview of the different actors involved in the management of patients with haemophilia and to provide an accurate description of the patient trajectory. This is a qualitative exploratory research based on interviews of the principal health professionals of four haemophilia services, between November 2019 and February 2020, in France. Mapping of the CPPH processes within the different institutions and/or services, as well as the rupture zones, were identified. Treatment delivery and biological analyses were carried out exclusively in healthcare institutions. The main liberal health professionals solicited were nurses, physiotherapists and general practitioner. Obstacles and barriers within the specialized service, with other hospital services and external hospital or private services, community health care providers et community environment and individual one was complex and multiples. Our research identified potential concerns that need to be addressed to improve future studies to identify influential elements. Similarly, other qualitative studies will have to be conducted on the perceptions and literacy of patients with haemophilia to develop a global interactive mapping of their trajectories.

Improvements in Communication and Coordination of Care in a Hemophilia Treatment Center

INTRODUCTION

In response to the increasing complexity of care for patients with bleeding disorders, we established new clinical teams for our hemophilia treatment center (HTC).

AIMS

We undertook a quality improvement project to improve the coordination and communication with our patients by establishing primary assignments of clinical staff to individual patients (primary teams).

METHODS

A quality improvement project group was formed that established the goals and assignment of primary teams. Patients were surveyed for their knowledge of their primary teams as well as their ability to schedule and contact their primary providers. As a measure of the effects on clinical staff, a balancing survey was also conducted among providers impacted by the clinical assignment of teams.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrate improvements across both coordination and communication as reported by patients. Additionally, the assignment of primary teams was met with high satisfaction and improvement in coordination and communication as reported by the clinical staff members of the HTC.

CONCLUSIONS

Initiation of a quality improvement project and the creation of a primary team system were feasible at a large HTC and resulted in improvements in both patient-reported and staff-reported outcomes of coordination and communication of care.

Mortality, life expectancy, and causes of death of persons with hemophilia in the Netherlands 2001-2018

BACKGROUND

Treatment of patients with hemophilia has advanced over the past decades, but it is unknown whether this has resulted in a normal life expectancy in the Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE

This observational cohort study aimed to assess all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with hemophilia in the Netherlands between 2001 and 2018 and to compare mortality and life expectancy with previous survival assessments from 1973 onward.

PATIENTS/METHODS

All 1066 patients with hemophilia who participated in a nationwide survey in 2001 were followed until July 2018.

RESULTS

Information on 1031 individuals (97%) was available, of whom 142 (14%) deceased during follow-up. Compared with the general Dutch male population, mortality of patients with hemophilia was still increased (standardized mortality ratio: 1.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-1.7). Intracranial bleeding and malignancies were the most common causes of death. Estimated median life expectancy of patients with hemophilia was 77 years, 6 years lower than the median life expectancy of the general Dutch male population (83 years). Over the past 45 years, death rates of patients with hemophilia have consistently decreased, approaching the survival experience of the general population. Over the past decades, mortality due to human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infections has decreased, death due to intracranial hemorrhages has increased, and death due to ischemic heart disease has remained consistently low over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival in patients with hemophilia in the Netherlands has improved over time but is still lower than that of the general population.

Comparative analysis of oral health and treatment necessities in hemophilia individuals of Davangere population - A case control study

Background:

The integrated approach towards the oral care of individuals with special needs requires proper motivation and prophylactic guidance by primary health care professionals, including musculoskeletal support to psychological therapy. In developing countries like India, oral care is not of primary importance as oral hygiene practices are less performed by compromised individuals suffering from hemophilia. Here, primary health care professionals play a significant role. The present study was commenced to evaluate oral health and treatment necessities in hemophilic individuals of Davangere population, Karnataka.

Objective:

The present study was conducted to assess and compare the oral hygiene, dentition status, and treatment needs of individuals with hemophilia.

Methods:

Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), decayed, missed, filled tooth (DMFT) indices and treatment needs in 50 hemophiliac patients registered at Karnataka hemophilia society were evaluated along with an Oral health-related quality of life (OHR-QoL) questionnaire. They were matched with healthy controls of the same age and gender. The data was analyzed using t test and Chi square test.

Results:

The oral hygiene was fair in both hemophilic and healthy individuals with a mean value of 1.82 ± 0.79 and 1.83 ± 0.73, respectively. All the parameters such as OHIS, DMFT indices, and teatment needs were not statistically significant. The spontaneous oral bleeding was the only significant factor in OHR-Qol questionnaire.

Conclusion:

The present study concluded that oral hygiene, dental caries prevalence, and treatment needs were similar in both hemophiliac and control groups. With proper guidance, motivation, and preventive care by primary health care professionals, it was relatively easy for individuals with congenital blood disorder (CBD) to maintain oral health-related quality of life in Davangere population, Karnataka.

The UK haemophilia specialist nurse: Competencies fit for practice in the 21st century

Introduction

Nurses play a central co‐ordinating role in delivering comprehensive care for people with haemophilia and allied bleeding disorders, for which they need a broad range of competencies. The UK Haemophilia Nurses Association (HNA) published a role description in 1994 which was developed into a competency framework in 2014. This has now been updated to reflect current educational and clinical practice.

Aim

To summarize the evidence supporting the nurse's advanced role within haemophilia care and develop new competencies to deliver comprehensive care within a multidisciplinary team.

Methods

Systematic reviews were identified by PubMed literature search. The HNA conducted workshops to consult its membership, and the authors incorporated this input to update its competency framework within the structure outlined by Health Education England in multiprofessional framework for advanced clinical practice in England (2017).

Results

The proposed framework includes five domains (Clinical knowledge, Clinical/direct care, Communication and support, Collaborative practice and Research) supported by indicators for four levels of practice (beginner, competent, proficient and expert). The framework is a tool which nurses and their managers can use to assess skills and knowledge, and identify learning needs appropriate to personal development and improve patient care and outcomes.

Conclusion

The HNA has developed a new competency framework to provide a strong foundation for haemophilia specialist nurses to continue improving services for people living with bleeding disorders and their families, as well as supporting personal development alongside new therapeutic options, models of care and follow‐up.

Systematic review and analysis of efficacy of recombinant factor IX products for prophylactic treatment of hemophilia B in comparison with rIX-FP

Aims: Prophylaxis with standard-acting recombinant factor IX (rFIX) in hemophilia B patients requires frequent injections. Extended half-life (EHL) products allow for prolonged dosing intervals, and so reduce this treatment burden. Three technologies are employed to extend the half-life of FIX; glycopegylation, Fc-fusion, and albumin fusion. rIX-FP is a novel albumin fusion protein, which allows for a prolonged dosing interval of up to 14 days. A systematic review and indirect statistical comparison was performed to evaluate the efficacy of both EHL and standard-acting rFIX products compared with rIX-FP in Phase III trials for prophylaxis in adult hemophilia B patients. Materials and methods: A systematic search was conducted in both EMBASE and PubMed to identify Phase III trials of prophylactic rFIX treatment in previously treated hemophilia B patients aged ≥12 years (FIX ≤2%). Annualized bleeding rate (ABR), spontaneous ABR (AsBR), and joint ABR (AjBR) data were extracted from each study. A z-test was performed using the mean of each parameter, and the mean difference in outcome between studies was calculated. Results: Seven articles investigating six rFIX products were identified. Median ABR, AsBR, and AjBR ranged from 0-3.0, 0-1.0, and 0-1.1 (means = 0.8-4.26, 0.13-2.6, and 0.34-2.85), respectively. rIX-FP achieved the lowest median and mean values in all three parameters. Z-tests showed that mean ABR was significantly lower for rIX-FP 7-day prophylaxis compared with the majority of standard-acting and other EHL rFIX products. Limitations: The low number of appropriate trials available for comparison limits the quantity of data available for comparison, and restricts the use of methods of adjustment for variance in study design or patient characteristics. However, these limitations are shared with similar analyses published in this field. Conclusion: This indirect comparison of Phase III trials indicates that rIX-FP efficacy compares favorably vs other rFIX products for prophylaxis in hemophilia B.

Optimizing patient flow in a multidisciplinary haemophilia clinic using quality improvement methodology

INTRODUCTION

Multidisciplinary clinics in academic settings are often inefficient and can lead to lengthy clinic visits for patients and staff.

AIM

We aimed to use quality improvement (QI) methodology and a multidisciplinary approach to optimize outpatient comprehensive haemophilia clinic flow.

METHODS

At baseline, a multidisciplinary QI team created a key driver diagram to identify drivers of haemophilia clinic flow. Identified drivers included patient needs/scheduling, provider flow and laboratory/research requirements. From December 2016 to August 2017, value stream mapping (VSM) was used to identify barriers to clinic flow, and plan-do-study-act cycles were used to address these barriers. Interventions included (a) standardizing the order in which providers saw patients to enable time-sensitive laboratories, (b) improving HTC team meeting functionality, (c) optimizing a visual management board and implementing a flow coordinator, (d) initiating a team huddle prior to clinic start and (e) modifying the clinic appointment template. Timely laboratory draw was used as a surrogate marker of clinic flow, and VSM utilization percentage was used as an objective measure of efficiency.

RESULTS

We did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in timed laboratory draws; however, clinic utilization percentage increased by 30%, which resulted in adding point-of-care musculoskeletal ultrasound services without lengthening clinic duration.

CONCLUSION

Quality improvement methodology is an effective means of improving clinic utilization in a multidisciplinary clinic.

Strategies for eliciting and synthesizing evidence for guidelines in rare diseases

Background

Rare diseases are a global public health priority. Though each disease is rare, when taken together the thousands of known rare diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality, impact quality of life, and confer a social and economic burden on families and communities. These conditions are, by their nature, encountered very infrequently by individual clinicians, who may feel unprepared to address their diagnosis and treatment. Clinical practice guidelines are necessary to support clinical and policy decisions. However, creating guidelines for rare diseases presents specific challenges, including a paucity of high certainty evidence to inform panel recommendations.

Methods

This paper draws from the authors’ experience in the development of clinical practice guidelines for three rare diseases: hemophilia, sickle cell disease, and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome.

Results

We have summarized a number of strategies for eliciting and synthesizing evidence that are compatible with the rigorous, internationally accepted standards for guideline development set out by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. These strategies include: use of pre-existing and ad hoc qualitative research, use of systematic observation forms, use of registry data, and thoughtful use of indirect evidence. Their use in three real guideline development efforts, as well as their theoretical underpinnings, are discussed. Avenues for future research to improve clinical practice guideline creation for rare diseases – and any disease affected by a relative lack of evidence - are also identified.

Conclusions

Rigorous clinical practice guidelines are needed to improve the care of the millions of people worldwide who suffer from rare diseases. Innovative evidence elicitation and synthesis methods will benefit not only the rare disease community, but also individuals with common diseases who have rare presentations, suffer rare complications, or require nascent therapies. Further refinement and improved uptake of these innovative methods should lead to higher quality clinical practice guidelines in rare diseases.

A study to determine the prevalence, clinical profile and incidence of formation of inhibitors in patients of hemophilia in North Eastern part of India

Introduction:

Deficiency of factor VIII (Hemophilia A), factor IX (Hemophilia B) and Von Willebrand's factor are the most frequent coagulation defects. The incidence of inhibitors in patients of factor VIII deficiency is varies in different regions of India.

Aim:

To determine the prevalence, clinical profile and incidence of formation of inhibitors in patients of Hemophilia in north eastern part of India.

Methods:

Selected patients were under went for complete Blood Count (CBC), General Blood Picture (GBP), Prothrombin time (PT), Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), Thrombin time, Correction experiment to know the specific factor deficiency or inhibitors present by Normal Plasma, Normal aged serum, Al(OH)₃ adsorbed plasma.

Results:

92 patients diagnosed as suffering with Hemophilia A or B were included in study. The age of patients ranged from 2.5 month to 53 years. Out of 92, seventy nine (85.87%) were Haemophilia A and thirteen were (14.13%) Hemophilia B patients. 3.50% (2/55) cases of treated Hemophilia A patient develop inhibitor.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of hemophilia and incidence of inhibitors in these patients is varies in different regions of India. This variation may be due to the type of product used as treatment, intensity of treatment or the genetic characteristics of the patients.

Impact of the 340B Pharmacy Program on Services and Supports for Persons Served by Hemophilia Treatment Centers in the United States

Purpose Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) provide integrated and comprehensive services to individuals affected with rare bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia and Von Willebrand disease. Through the 340 Drug Pricing Program, HTCs may use pharmacy income to support clinical staff and patient services. The objective of this study was to describe the impact of the 340B program funding on services and support provided by HTCs to persons affected by rare bleeding disorders. Description Federally designated comprehensive HTCs with established 340B programs were invited to participate in a mailed survey in 2014. Participants were requested to report on 340B program-funded staff and services in the calendar year 2013. Assessment The 31 of 37 HTCs responding served over 10,000 individuals, or one-third of the national HTC patient population. The majority of responding HTCs reported that 340B program income supported over 90% of staff such as nurses, social workers, and physical therapists. Conclusion The results from this survey of 31 centers with established programs demonstrates the HTCs' reliance on 340B program support for vital comprehensive services, that are otherwise non-reimbursable, and highlights the importance of the 340B program in sustaining the high quality of care and in increasing access for a geographically dispersed, medically vulnerable population.

Management of cardiovascular disease in aging persons with haemophilia

With the aging of the haemophilia population, age related comorbidities become more and more a medical issue. Managing haemophilia patients with cardiovascular disease is a difficult task for many haemophilia-treating physicians. Over the years, insights on prevalence, risk factors and management of cardiovascular disease in haemophilia have improved substantially. It is now recognised that many risk factors, such as hypertension and overweight, occur quite frequently in patients with haemophilia. Several new insights in anticoagulation management of atrial fibrillation and coronary ischaemia in haemophilia have been suggested. This review provides an general overview of the current knowledge of these topics in literature.

Measuring the quality of haemophilia care across different settings: a set of performance indicators derived from demographics data

BACKGROUND

Haemophilia is a rare disease for which quality of care varies around the world. We propose data-driven indicators as surrogate measures for the provision of haemophilia care across countries and over time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The guiding criteria for selection of possible indicators were ease of calculation and direct applicability to a wide range of countries with basic data collection capacities. General population epidemiological data and haemophilia A population data from the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Annual Global Survey (AGS) for the years 2013 and 2010 in a sample of 10 countries were used for this pilot exercise.

RESULTS

Three indicators were identified: (i) the percentage difference between the observed and the expected haemophilia A incidence, which would be close to null when all of the people with haemophilia A (PWHA) theoretically expected in a country would be known and reported to the AGS; (ii) the percentage of the total number of PWHA with severe disease; and (iii) the ratio of adults to children among PWHA standardized to the ratio of adults to children for males in the general population, which would be close to one if the survival of PWHA is equal to that of the general population. Country-specific values have been calculated for the 10 countries.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified and evaluated three promising indicators of quality of care in haemophilia. Further evaluation on a wider set of data from the AGS will be needed to confirm their value and further explore their measurement properties.