An online educational module on transfusion safety and appropriateness for resident physicians: a controlled before-after quality-improvement study

Knowledge assessment of Tunisian junior doctors in transfusion medicine

BACKGROUND

Although transfusion medicine (TM) is included in medical curricula, junior doctors still have gaps in practical knowledge. These gaps with limited training increase patient risks, as well as health care costs. The aim of this study is to assess TM knowledge among juniors' doctors.

METHODS

This is a monocentric study, conducted across nine clinical departments. A structured questionnaire was used to assess four TM concepts. Knowledge scores were analyzed according to experience, prior training, and department.

RESULTS

Of the 102 doctors surveyed, 82 (80%) responded. The median age of participants was 27 years old. The percentage of residents was 82%. Among them, 41% had prior and only 10% had more than three years of experience. The average knowledge score was 32.4%, with 41.5% scoring above the mean. Most interns and residents scored in the poor or moderate knowledge range, while the good knowledge group consisted exclusively of residents. Scores were highest for pre-transfusion initiation and monitoring, and lowest for basic knowledge and risk management. Residents generally outperformed interns, with knowledge correlating positively with clinical experience.

CONCLUSION

Experience alone does not ensure competency. Enhanced curricula with standardized and innovative tools are recommended to reduce transfusion errors and improve patient safety.

E-learning in transfusion medicine: An exploratory qualitative assessment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

E-learning programmes are increasingly offered in transfusion medicine (TM) education. The aim of this study was to explore facilitators and barriers to TM e-learning programmes, including assessment of learning outcomes and measures of effectiveness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants selected from a prior survey and representing a diverse number of international e-learning programmes were invited to participate. A mixed methodology was employed, combining a survey and individual semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Interview data were analysed inductively to explore programme development, evaluation, and facilitators and barriers to implementation.

RESULTS

Fourteen participants representing 13 institutions participated in the survey and 10 were interviewed. The e-learning programmes have been in use for a variable duration between 5 and 16 years. Funding sources varied, including government and institutional support. Learner assessment methods varied and encompassed multiple-choice-questions (n = 12), direct observation (n = 4) and competency assessment (n = 4). Most regional and national blood collection agencies rely on user feedback and short-term learning assessments to evaluate their programmes. Only one respondent indicated an attempt to correlate e-learning with clinical practices. Factors that facilitated programme implementation included support from management and external audits to ensure compliance with regulatory educational and training requirements. Barriers to programme implementation included the allocation of staff time for in-house development, enforcing compliance, keeping educational content up-to-date and gaining access to outcome data for educational providers.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence of considerable diversity in the evaluation of e-learning programmes. Further work is needed to understand the ultimate impact of TM e-learning on transfusion practices and patient outcomes.

Let Us Know Transfusion Triggers for Prophylactic Use of Platelet Concentrate-Analysis of Compliance with Recent Transfusion Guidelines in a Large Academic Medical Center

Platelet concentrate (PC) is a blood component that is used to prevent or manage bleeding associated with thrombocytopenia or impaired platelet function. The aim of our study was to assess the compliance of ordering physicians with the most recent PC transfusion guidelines in our academic medical center. All PC transfusions performed between January 2019 and December 2022 were analyzed. The appropriateness of PC transfusions was assessed based on the most recent PC transfusion guidelines. During 2019-2022, there were 362 (0.2%) PC recipients out of 161,762 hospitalized patients. There were 971 PCs transfused during the analyzed period. Inappropriate transfusions accounted for 53.3% of cases, and most of them were given prophylactically (80.2%). Compliance with platelet transfusion guidelines varied among departments. The overall percentage of inappropriately transfused PC ranged from 50.7% to 60.8% in successive years. Educational activities should target clinicians performing procedures associated with high rates of inappropriate PC transfusions. Implementing clinical decision support systems can help reduce unnecessary PC transfusions and associated costs. The majority of inappropriate PC transfusions in our medical center were given as prophylaxis against bleeding. Prescribers should be educated about evidence-based transfusion triggers for the prophylactic use of PC in various clinical scenarios.

Development of a national out-of-hospital transfusion protocol: a modified RAND Delphi study

BACKGROUND

Early resuscitation with blood components or products is emerging as best practice in selected patients with trauma and medical patients; as a result, out-of-hospital transfusion (OHT) programs are being developed based on limited and often conflicting evidence. This study aimed to provide guidance to Canadian critical care transport organizations on the development of OHT protocols.

METHODS

The study period was July 2021 to June 2022. We used a modified RAND Delphi process to achieve consensus on statements created by the study team guiding various aspects of OHT in the context of critical care transport. Purposive sampling ensured representative distribution of participants in regard to geography and relevant clinical specialties. We conducted 2 written survey Delphi rounds, followed by a virtual panel discussion (round 3). Consensus was defined as a median score of at least 6 on a Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Definitely should not include") to 7 ("Definitely should include"). Statements that did not achieve consensus in the first 2 rounds were discussed and voted on during the panel discussion.

RESULTS

Seventeen subject experts participated in the study, all of whom completed the 3 Delphi rounds. After the study process was completed, a total of 39 statements were agreed on, covering the following domains: general oversight and clinical governance, storage and transport of blood components and products, initiation of OHT, types of blood components and products, delivery and monitoring of OHT, indications for and use of hemostatic adjuncts, and resuscitation targets of OHT.

INTERPRETATION

This expert consensus document provides guidance on OHT best practices. The consensus statements should support efficient and safe OHT in national and international critical care transport programs.

Understanding Intraoperative Transfusion Decision-Making Variability: A Qualitative Study

There is evidence of significant intraoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusion variability that cannot be explained by case-mix, and may reflect unwarranted transfusions. The objective was to explore the source of intraoperative RBC transfusion variability by eliciting the beliefs of anesthesiologists and surgeons that underlie transfusion decisions. Interviews based on the Theoretical Domains Framework were conducted to identify beliefs about intraoperative transfusion. Content analysis was performed to group statements into domains. Relevant domains were selected based on frequency of beliefs, perceived influence on transfusion, and the presence of conflicting beliefs within domains. Of the 28 transfusion experts recruited internationally (16 anesthesiologists, 12 surgeons), 24 (86%) were Canadian or American and 11 (39%) identified as female. Eight relevant domains were identified: (1) Knowledge (insufficient evidence to guide intraoperative transfusion), (2) Social/professional role and identity (surgeons/anesthesiologists share responsibility for transfusions), (3) Beliefs about consequences (concerns about morbidity of transfusion/anemia), (4) Environmental context/resources (transfusions influenced by type of surgery, local blood supply, cost of transfusion), (5) Social influences (institutional culture, judgment by peers, surgeon-anesthesiologist relationship, patient preference influencing transfusion decisions), (6) Behavioral regulation (need for intraoperative transfusion guidelines, usefulness of audits and educational sessions to guide transfusion), (7) Nature of the behaviors (overtransfusion remains commonplace, transfusion practice becoming more restrictive over time), and (8) Memory, attention, and decision processes (various patient and operative characteristics are incorporated into transfusion decisions). This study identified a range of factors underlying intraoperative transfusion decision-making and partly explain the variability in transfusion behavior. Targeted theory-informed behavior-change interventions derived from this work could help reduce intraoperative transfusion variability.

Comparison of Blood Transfusion Rates Before and After Implementation of a Quality Improvement Initiative for Transfusion Safety and Appropriateness

This quality improvement study compares blood transfusion rates among patients at a single tertiary care hospital before and after the implementation of a transfusion training model completed by incoming resident physicians.

Evaluating the appropriateness of platelet transfusions compared with evidence-based platelet guidelines: An audit of platelet transfusions at 57 hospitals

BACKGROUND

Platelet transfusions are used to prevent or control bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction. The pretransfusion platelet count threshold has been studied extensively in multiple patient settings yielding high-quality evidence that has been summarized in several comprehensive evidence-based platelet guidelines.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A prospective 12-week audit of consecutive platelet transfusions using validated and evidence-based adjudication criteria was conducted. Patient demographic, laboratory, and transfusion details were collected with an electronic audit tool. Each order was adjudicated either electronically or independently by two transfusion medicine physicians. The aim was to determine platelet transfusion appropriateness and common scenarios with deviations from guidelines.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven (38%) of 150 hospitals provided data on 1903 platelet orders, representing 90% of platelet usage in the region during the time period. Overall, 702 of 1693 adult (41.5%) and 133 of 210 pediatric orders (63.3%) were deemed inappropriate. The most common inappropriate platelet order was for prophylaxis in the absence of bleeding or planned procedure in patients with hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia and a platelet count over 10 x 10⁹ /L (53% of inappropriate orders in adults and 45% in pediatrics). Platelet transfusions ordered with either a preprinted transfusion order set (odds ratio [OR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-2.73) or technologist prospective screening (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.10-1.78) were more likely to be appropriate.

CONCLUSION

There is a discrepancy between clinical practice and evidence-based platelet guidelines. Broad educational and system changes will be needed to align platelet transfusion practice with guideline recommendations.

Transfusions in the Emergency department: More than a blood transfusion

Increasing haemoglobin and haematocrit levels with blood transfusions has been the gold standard for treating severe anaemia; however, the indication for transfusing concentrated red blood cells is based merely on a few laboratory markers, such as haemoglobin and haematocrit levels, rather than based on the symptoms according to clinical practice guidelines, the implementation of legal regulations and the consensus achieved by the hospitals' transfusion committees. The aim of this multicentre study was to reassess the suitability of the indication for transfusing concentrated red blood cells and the volumes transfused in emergency departments. We established an observational, multicentre, cross-sectional design with 2 participating centres: the La Paz University Hospital and the Hospital of Salamanca. In total, we obtained data from 381 patients, 220 (57.74%) of whom were men with an average age of 71.4±14.0 years and 161 (42.26%) of whom were women with an average age of 75.3±15.3 years (P<.001). The most prevalent underlying diseases in the patients who underwent transfusions were heart disease, which included haemorrhaging due to antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy (57.7%), haemato-oncologic (15.3%) diseases and neurological disease. Only 54.9% (209/381) of the prescriptions for transfusion were considered appropriate, with significant differences according to the indication.