Determination of health workers’ level of knowledge about blood transfusion and the potential effect on patient safety in Nablus رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Background: Blood transfusion is an important medical intervention that requires precise knowledge and adherence to safety protocols to prevent adverse events. Healthcare workers' knowledge of blood transfusions is critical to patient safety during transfusions. Methods: The goal of this study was to determine how well-informed medical professionals were about blood transfusion procedures, and to explore potential effects on patient safety. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among various categories of health workers, including doctors, nurses, and laboratory technicians, in Palestine at Al-Najah National University Hospital from October 2022 to Jan 2023.A validated questionnaire comprising Participants were quizzed on their knowledge of safe administration procedures, compatibility testing, transfusion reactions, and indications for blood transfusions using multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Results: A total of 200 health workers included in the survey. The finding of study indicated varying levels of knowledge across different professional groups. While doctors demonstrated a strong understanding of blood transfusion indications and compatibility testing, nurses exhibited greater awareness of safe administration practices and transfusion reaction management. Laboratory technicians displayed a comprehensive grasp of compatibility testing procedures but showed gaps in understanding transfusion reactions. A concerning finding was that overall knowledge about the expected adverse reactions of blood transfusion on patient safety was suboptimal across all categories of health workers. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of addressing knowledge gaps among health workers in the context of blood transfusion to enhance patient safety. Tailored training programs and continuous education initiatives should be implemented to address specific areas of deficiency among different professional groups. Collaborative efforts among healthcare institutions, regulatory bodies, and educational institutions are crucial in improving knowledge and standardizing best practices related to blood transfusion. By enhancing health workers' knowledge, patient safety during blood transfusion procedures can be significantly improved, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.