Use of a Pediatric Bleeding Questionnaire in the Screening of Von Willebrand Disease in Young Females at Menarche in the Primary Care Setting

Von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common inherited bleeding disorder, is caused by deficiency or dysfunction in von Willebrand factor. Assessment of hemorrhagic symptoms is essential for early diagnosis, although bleeding histories are taken in a nonstandardized manner. Validated bleeding assessment tools provide objectivity in evaluating bleeding patterns of females at menarche and may improve provider confidence in screening for VWD. Utilizing a pretest/posttest design, in this project we implemented and evaluated the use of a pediatric bleeding questionnaire in eight pediatric primary care clinics for 3 months. Results indicate improved provider knowledge, confidence, and skills after implementation. The importance and quality of the tool were rated highly by the providers, while the ease of use was rated low. Providers were satisfied with the practice change and believed that it improved their clinical abilities. The use of this tool can improve VWD screening in this practice setting.