Navigating uncertainty: an examination of how people with haemophilia understand and cope with uncertainty in protection in an ethnographic study

Abstract

Abstract Background With the major advances in treatment of haemophilia in recent decades, people with haemophilia (PwH) are more protected in their daily lives than ever before. However, recent studies point to persisting or increasing patient experience of uncertainty. Aims The aim of this article is to further investigate findings related to how PwH understand and cope with uncertainty around their protection in their everyday life, one of the main themes identified in a large-scale ethnographic study of the everyday life of PwH, including beliefs and experiences related to their condition, their treatment, and their personal ways of managing the condition. Methods The study used ethnographic research methods. Five haemophilia experts provided historical and disease area context prior to the initiation of field research. During field research, study researchers collected data through 8–12 hours of participant observation, semi-structured interviews, written exercises, facilitated group dialogues, and on-site observations of the interactions of PwH with friends, family, and health care professionals (HCPs). Study researchers also conducted on-site observation at haemophilia treatment centres (HTCs) and interviewed HCPs. The study employed a multi-tiered grounded theory approach and combined data were analysed using techniques such as inductive and deductive analysis, cross-case analysis, challenge mapping, and clustering exercises. This article explores findings related to uncertainty and thus focuses on a subset of the data from the study. Results Fifty-one PwH in Italy, Germany, Spain, UK, and Ireland were interviewed and followed in their daily lives, and 18 HCPs were interviewed. Fifty-two per cent (n=26/50) of PwH in the study experience difficulties translating clinical understanding of protection into specific activities in everyday life. Many have developed their own mental models and care adaptations to navigate treatment uncertainy: these seldom match the medical community's view. These mental models of protection among PwH can cause distress and influence behaviour in a way that can limit possibilities, and/or increase risk. There is also a prevalent tension in the strategies PwH have for managing their protection in terms of day-to-day vs. long-term ambitions. Conclusions These findings on PwH's experience of treatment uncertainty suggest a need to develop tools and communication materials to help PwH better understand the protection provided by their treatment regimen and what that means practically for everyday life.