Dealing with a Person with Hemophilia Today : The Physician's Inner Perspective

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the hematologists’ internal representation of a difficult encounter with an hemophilic patient. Methods: 48 hematologists were asked to write “About an history in which you feel in difficulty during a meeting with an hemophilic patient and/or his/her family”. The narrations were analysed in accordance to the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)1. The data storage was supported by the software N-Vivo8. Results: Three main issues were identified each with sub-issues: 1. Inside the relationship: 1.1. To tell or not to tell bad news along a long story of illness; 1.2. To convince them/me that is normal; 1.3. The guilt/non acceptance of the illness and of the imperfection; 1.4. The ghost of maltreatment. 2. On the borderline of the relationship: 2.1. Professionals values; 2.2. The “know it all” doctor, who is expected to deal with family’s problems, with psychological disorders till to declare her/himself powerless. 3. Around the relationship: the life: 3.1. Ontological questions; 3.2. His/her life; 3.3. The ups and downs of life that the doctor watches from the beginning to the end. Discussion: The study seems to witness the deep involvement of the physicians in the relations with their patients that seems to be perceived at a professional level but also, and strongly, at a more personal level. The experience of being so deeply involved should be considered in the training program of physicians dealing with hemophilia in order to favor a satisfactory management of the professional wellbeing and of the boundaries of the doctor-patient relations. Key words: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis; hematologists’ representation; hemophilia; Qualitative research. References 1. Eatough V, Smith JA. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. In: Willing C, Stainton-Rogers W (eds). Qualitative Research in Psychology. London: Sage; 2008, p179-194.