Abstract
Background and Aim: Proper blood transfusion and its associated products necessitate the presence of knowledgeable personnel in the treatment environment. If personnel training is overlooked, irreversible complications and issues may arise for patients. The present study aimed to assess the awareness of medical personnel regarding the blood transfusion process and its products in teaching hospitals in Sanandaj in 2022.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 medical personnel in teaching hospitals in Sanandaj, Kurdistan, Iran, utilizing Proportionate stratified random sampling based on the size of each professional group. The data collection tool was a questionnaire that included demographic information and awareness regarding the blood transfusion process and its products in four areas: 1) request, 2) maintenance, 3) compatibility testing prior to injection, and 4) monitoring the injection process and any complications thereafter. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, employing chi-square tests, independent t-tests, or their nonparametric equivalent, the Mann-Whitney U test
Results: The findings of the current study revealed that 52.7% of the personnel exhibited poor awareness, 38.3% demonstrated moderate awareness, and 8.9% displayed good awareness. According to the results of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the distribution of the total awareness scores did not conform to a normal distribution. Additionally, the results of the Kruskal-Wallis test indicated a significant relationship among all areas across different hospitals and disciplines.
Conclusion: Given the low level of awareness among medical personnel regarding the blood transfusion process and its associated products, as well as the significant relationship between various areas of awareness measurement—such as request procedures, storage, compatibility testing, and monitoring—with hospitals and medical disciplines, it is essential to revise the manuals for medical personnel and blood transfusion centers. Additionally, educational programs related to blood transfusion medicine and its products should be updated to enhance understanding and compliance.
Keywords: Blood and Blood Products, Personnel Awareness, Blood Transfusion