Educational and vocational achievement among hemophiliacs: the Pennsylvania experience

A survey of the educational and vocational achievement of the 423 adult hemophiliacs registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Hemophilia Program found that the hemophiliacs were significantly better educated yet somewhat less frequently employed than their age-matched cohorts in the Pennsylvania population. The discrepancy between educational achievement among hemophiliacs and their ability to obtain employment was most apparent for subjects with severe disease. This suggests that severity of disease remains a significant barrier to vocational achievement for some hemophiliacs, despite comprehensive care and their overall educational gains. Possible reasons for this discrepancy in achievement are discussed and the need for greater emphasis on research and the development of vocational services is stressed.