INTRODUCTION: European guidelines on the care of haemophilia recommend ready access to a range of services provided by a multidisciplinary team of specialists including physiotherapy. However, the scope of physiotherapy provided is unknown. METHODS: The Physiotherapists Committee of the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD) conducted a web-based survey to quantify the role and scope of practice of physiotherapists involved in haemophilia care. The survey was sent to more than 200 physiotherapists registered on the EAHAD database. Questions concerned their work practices including assessment and treatment activities and level of autonomy. RESULTS: Eighty physiotherapists from twenty-four European countries responded. Considerable heterogeneity exists in roles, responsibilities, and clinical practice of physiotherapists, particularly in access to and type of physiotherapy treatment provided, as well as the skill set and autonomy of physiotherapists to make independent assessment and treatment decisions. DISCUSSION: This pan-European survey establishes a context to support physiotherapy role development and professional identity. Key recommendations include the following: (a) establishing a pan-European network to support collaboration and education for physiotherapists working in haemophilia, (b) developing a core skills and capability framework to ensure person-centred approaches are central as well as working in partnership with those with the condition to maximize early recovery, support self-management and enablement in remaining active and independent, (c) regular training, standardized validation and maintenance of competency for assessment tools, (d) well-designed randomized clinical studies with larger numbers of participants from multiple sites should be the focus of future research.

Department of Clinical Service Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Oslo Norway

Department of Rehabilitation University Children's Hospital Brno Czech Republic

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust Canterbury UK Royal London Hospital Haemophilia Centre London UK

European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders Brussels Belgium

Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust Katharine Dormandy Haemophilia Centre and Thrombosis Unit London UK

Secteur des Sciences de la Santé Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique Neuromusculoskeletal Lab Université catholique de Louvain Brussels Belgium Service d'hématologie Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc Brussels Belgium Service de Médecine Physique et Réadaptation Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc Brussels Belgium

University Medical Center Utrecht Van Creveldkliniek Utrecht The Netherlands Department of Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Science and Sport University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands

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