THE KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF FACTOR CONCENTRATE IN PERSONS WITH HEMOPHILIA-A

Objectives. To evaluate haemophilia patients' knowledge and understand ing of factor concentrate products and to assess their feelings regard ing purity and viral safety of these products. Methods. Sixty question naires were distributed and completed by patients or parents of patien ts with severe/moderate haemophilia A at two large comprehensive haemo philia centres in the USA and Italy. Results. Most patients knew what brand of factor concentrate they used, but less than half were aware o f how their concentrate was virally inactivated. The majority of respo nders perceived recombinant factor VIII as being the concentrate with the highest degree of purity. The majority felt the decision of which concentrate to use should be the care-givers not the patients. Conclus ions. It appears that patients need more education concerning the conc entrate they are using, and its method of viral inactivation and purit y.