Children's preferences of transfer devices for reconstitution of factors VIII and IX for the treatment of haemophilia.

The past decade has seen the introduction of a number of needleless transfer devices for the reconstitution of coagulation factors. This study investigated the use of four commercially available transfer devices by children with bleeding disorders, and assessed their preferences for the devices. Fifteen children with bleeding disorders requiring prophylactic home treatment with coagulation factors were recruited to the study. The participants tested reconstitution with four dummy transfer devices: BAXJECT, BIOSET, ReFacto R2 and Mix2Vial. Participants did not infuse the factors reconstituted using the devices. Each participant then answered a series of questions on each device; answers were based on a five-point Likert scale and the devices were ranked in order of preference. All participants were able to use the devices within 5 min and 78% of participants ranked all devices as 'fairly easy' or 'very easy' to use. The most popular device was Mix2Vial, which was the most preferred by seven participants (46.7%). BAXJECT was the preferred device of four participants, but was also the least, or least but one, favourite of nine participants. Pre-filled syringe transfer devices, BIOSET and ReFacto R2, were preferred by only 26% of participants. This is the first published study comparing children's preferences for transfer devices. All children were able to manage the devices readily, and Mix2Vial was the preferred device of the majority of participants. Newer, advanced transfer devices offer a user-friendly and more convenient and effective way for children to reconstitute factors.