Knowledge and Practice among Clinicians Regarding Patient Blood Management Initiatives - Abstract
Background: Patient Blood Management (PBM) is a multimodal, multidisciplinary patient-centered strategy aimed at improving patient’s own blood.
Anemia and transfusion have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in surgical patients, and the systematic application of PBM programs in the perioperative period has been consistently found to improve patients’ clinical outcomes following surgery. Hospitals must strive towards the implementation of PBM that represents a new quality and safety standard.
Aims: The study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and clinical practice of physicians who prescribe blood and its components to their patients regarding the PBM initiatives.
Materials and Methods: A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021. The data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire distributed via online communication tools to the hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The population understudy consisted of physicians practicing in the following specialties: Surgery, Gynecology & Obstetrics, ICU, and Anesthesia.
Results: Responses from 102 physicians were received. Most of them 43 (33.3.%), were surgeons, and the rest were from anesthesia, intensive care, and obstetrics and gynecology divisions. The majority of these physicians were from governmental hospitals 75 (73.5%). Only 19 (18.6%) were consultant physicians. 13 (36.1%) of the participant in the ICU heard about PBM initiatives, 25 (39.7%) of the participants in the surgery section didn't hear about PBM initiatives. 28 (36.4%) of the participants mostly assess hemoglobin, coagulation screening, platelet count, and functions preoperatively before elective surgery in surgery.There was a statistical significance for PBM initiatives, protocol, guidelines, a policy about the management of perioperative bleeding and management of preoperative bleeding. In addition, there was a statistical significant relation in management of patients with known coagulopathies/bleeding disorders, obtaining a standardized bleeding history preoperatively, and treatment of pre-operative anemia.
Conclusion: The level of knowledge about transfusion practices is still inadequate. More training is necessary for prescribers of blood products. Learning from the working experiences, awareness, education and training on PBM are so important to set the evidence of health provider practices and to ensure medical and surgical outcomes by managing and preserving a patient’s blood according to health care practice.
These findings provide a baseline to develop joint action plans to further implement and strengthen PBM across hospitals in Saudi Arabia.