Dr Klaassen is a pediatric hematologist and leads the Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Clinic at CHEO. A full professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa with a certificate in epidemiology, he is also the sitting president of the Association of Hemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada (AHCDC) Well known as both a clinician and researcher in health related Quality of Life, Dr Klaassen is the owner/inventor of the Transfusion Quality of Life measure (TranQol) for thalassemia patients, Kid’s ITP tools and the QUALMS (myelodysplastic syndrome). National and international collaborations are ongoing for academic research on immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and marrow failure and his team actively participates in a number of registered clinical trials.
Research Projects
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Understanding the Physical Literacy Development of 8- to 12-year-old Children Living with Chronic Medical Conditions: A Comprehensive, Mixed Methods Inquiry
01/09/2024
Physical literacy is a concept used to describe the combined physical, affective and cognitive capacities facilitating an active lifestyle. Physical activity participation is essential for children living with chronic medical conditions, but knowledge of physical literacy among this group is scarce. An explanatory, sequential mixed methods design was used to comprehensively describe the physical literacies of children with chronic medical conditions (CMCs). Children with CMCs can achieve recommended levels of physical literacy without meeting normative standards for physical competence. Participants would benefit from a physical literacy intervention that targets the development of bodily self-regulation skills and risk evaluation in active settings.
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Quick, effective screening tasks identify children with medical conditions or disabilities needing physical literacy support.
03/01/2024
Activity adequacy, alone or with screen time, most effectively identified children likely to benefit from physical literacy support. Adequacy and screen time questionnaires are suitable for clinical use. Similar results regardless of diagnosis suggest physical competence deficits are not primary determinants of active lifestyles. Research to enhance screening specificity is required.
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Successful treatment of pediatric primary hepatic Burkitt lymphoma using rituximab: A case report
06/08/2021
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Measuring the impact of hemophilia on families: Development of the Hemophilia Family Impact Tool (H-FIT)
07/05/2021
The H-FIT has good preliminary measurement properties and may be responsive to changes in therapy associated with a decreased burden of administration.
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Adverse events in the paediatric emergency department: a prospective cohort study
29/04/2020
Conclusion One in 40 children suffered adverse events related to ED care. A high proportion of events were preventable. Management and diagnostic issues warrant further study.