Dissertation committee:
Ελένη, Θεοδοσοπούλου, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Ιωάννης, Κακλαμάνος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Παύλος, Μυριανθεύς, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Κωνσταντίνος, Τσουμάκας, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Γεώργιος, Φιλντίσης, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Θεόδωρος, Μαριόλης, Σαψάκος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Παντελής, Στεργιάννης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Blood transfusion is a commonly utilized therapeutic intervention, and if performed according to the correct protocols, it can be lifesaving for the patient.
The medical and nursing personnel involved in the transfusion procedure are crucial to its development, since their interventions, based on their knowledge and skills, can influence whether the procedure is successful or not.
Purpose: This study aims to evaluate and document the transfusion therapy knowledge of Greek medical professionals (doctors and nurses). Particularly, their knowledge of transfusion therapy issues will be evaluated prior to and following participation in specific educational programme pertaining to these issues. We will investigate the effect of schooling on differences in the amount of this knowledge.
Material-Method: A population consisting of health workers (resident doctors, nurses) was analyzed. The assessment of their knowledge on transfusion therapy topics was done using evaluated printed anonymous questionnaires before (phase A) and after (phase C) the implementation of particular transfusion therapy educational activities (phase B). SAS 9.4 for Windows (SAS Institute Inc., North Carolina, United States) and Excel 2007 for Windows (Microsoft corporation) were used to conduct the statistical analysis. For numerical parameters, the Kruskal-Wallis method was utilized, while the X2 test was utilized for categorical parameters. The significance level p was chosen at value of p< 0.05.
Results: In the A phase of the study, 234 nurses and 98 medical professionals participated, while in the C phase, 199 and 91, respectively. Regarding resident doctors, the mean number of accurate answers per doctor in phase A is 12,7±3,3 (range 4-19), whereas the number of incorrect responses is 13,3±3,3 (range 7-22). In phase C, the equivalent numbers are 21,2±2,1 (range 13-25) and 4,8±2,1 (range 1-13) (p<0.0001, an increase of 66.9% in the proportion of accurate responses per respondent). This improvement concerned both the whole set of questions and the subset of each of the four subject sections (Immunohematology, Indications for transfusion, Complications of transfusion, Practical issues of transfusion - Adminstering blood products).
Regarding nurses, the mean value of correct answers per nurse in phase A is 14.2±3 (range 7-23), whereas incorrect answers are 10.8±3 (range 2-18). The corresponding figures for phase C are 21,12±1,8 (range 14-25) and 3,9±1,8 (range 0-11) (p<0.000001, presenting an increase of approximately 48.6% in the proportion of accurate responses per respondent). This enhancement involved the both the question pool and subsets for each of the three theme areas (Sampling - Administering blood derivatives, Transfusion complications, other topics, e.g., immunohematology, traceability, etc.).
Conclusion: Greek health professionals' knowledge of transfusion treatment issues is adequate and can be greatly enhanced through the implementation of appropriate educational initiatives. Strengthening their education throughout their undergraduate years and continuing their education throughout their postgraduate degrees and professional career development can greatly help to the improvement of their knowledge and abilities, resulting in enhanced patient care.
