Evaluation of at-home phlebotomy for iron overload: feasibility and satisfaction of patients and healthcare workers.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate at-home phlebotomy and the satisfaction of iron-overload patients and healthcare workers with the procedure.


METHODS
Forty-two patients underwent at-home phlebotomy between 2003 and 2006. The phlebotomy was performed by the patient's nurse, who was trained by the private healthcare firm that also took charge of the disposal of the blood products. Data concerning these phlebotomies were collected via telephone interviews with all 42 patients, as well as 35 nurses and 40 primary-care physicians. The Limousin Regional Health Observatory processed the data collection.


RESULTS
Ninety percent (38/42) of the patients, 80% (28/35) of the nurses and 67% (27/40) of the primary-care physicians responded. For 80% of the patients, phlebotomy volume and frequency were as prescribed. Patients chose home phlebotomy for personal reasons, or because of the limited availability of French Blood Establishment facilities (68%), or in response to being offered it by their hospital physician (32%). For 81.6% of the patients, at-home phlebotomy was more satisfactory than phlebotomy in hospital or at the French Blood Establishment and, for 84%, the constraints required were fully acceptable. The nurses considered that these homecare procedures were within their area of responsibility (100%), but felt that the remuneration was insufficient (65%). Ninety-six percent of the primary-care physicians said they were correctly informed, but only 40% felt that they were truly committed to the procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
At-home phlebotomy is feasible, less costly than institutional phlebotomy and improves patient comfort.
Manea
P
P
Fédération des hépatites, service de médecine interne A, CHU Dupuytren, 2, avenue Martin-Luther-King, 87042 Limoges cedex, France.
Loustaud-Ratti
V
V
Mondary
D
D
Arnold
V
V
Ferley
J-P
JP
Souris
S
S
Fauchais
A-L
AL
Liozon
E
E
Vidal
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001771:Blood Banks; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005602:France; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000097:blood / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000078329:Workforce
D005293:Ferritins