Skip to content
left end
left end
right end

Electrotherapy in acute bleed management due to Haemophilia

Should we be using it at UHBristol?

Chief Investigator

Institution

Dates

Funding Stream

Amount
Dr Carey McClellan University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Jan 2016 to Mar 2017 Above & Beyond Autumn 2015 £15,650

 

Summary

Haemophilia is a heritable life-long disorder. There are around 5,686 people with Haemophilia nationally, approximately 200 registered at Avon Haemophilia Unit, 10% receiving treatment at UHBristol. Last year in this trust, between 20 and30 patients were referred for Pulsed Shortwave Diathermy; a pulsed magnetic field treatment provided by Haemophilia Physiotherapists. This treatment is not provided by all centres in the United Kingdom as there is a lack of agreement regarding its benefit to patients.

Our long-term aim is to determine whether this treatment should be routinely offered to patients with acute bleed due to haemophilia.

The objectives of this research are to:

  • Systematically review the literature investigating Pulsed Shortwave Diathermy for haemophilia.
  • Undertake an evaluation of current service at UHBristol; establish patient profiles of those who use/do not use the service and map the physiotherapy treatment pathways for current haemophilia patients at UHBristol.
  • Identify current physiotherapy management of acute bleeds in the haemophilia patient, in centres throughout the United Kingdom for comparison with UH Bristol.
  • To explore haemophilia patients beliefs regarding Pulsed Shortwave Diathermy.

UHBristol is ideally placed for this research due to the numbers in the existing patient cohort as well as patient interest in research participation. Long term the research has important potential impact including the reduced potential for over treatment of patients, provision of optimal treatment and resource implications for the Trust.

This research will inform a grant application for a pilot study to investigate the effect of Pulsed Shortwave Diathermy on acute bleed in haemophilia.

Impact

  • The current discrepancy in service provision results in potential treatment inequalities.
  • Lack of communication between local healthcare providers and the specialists was identified as a problem that needs to be addressed.
  • Further research focusing upon patient identified priorities is warranted to investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of physiotherapy including PSWT in the management and prevention of acute bleeds in PWH.
  • Further research needs to be undertaken into the cost effectiveness of PSWT as well as the patient perceived benefits.

Main findings to date

1. There is very little evidence available to support the current provision of care both locally and nationally

2. UHBristol physiotherapy provision of care for haemophiliacs differs to the national norm.

Outputs

  • The research has been disseminated at national conferences and research papers are being written for national journals.

 Updated 24/04/2017