Assessing intern doctors’ knowledge of transfusion medicine: A survey

Abstract

Background: In South Africa, blood and blood products are critical yet limited resources, with only 1% of the population actively donating. Despite their scarcity, blood products are frequently administered in hospitals. Issues of mismanagement, including inadequate informed consent, waste and improper transfusions, have a multi-factorial negative impact on health services. Intern doctors who regularly make transfusion decisions from the outset of their medical careers often lack sufficient knowledge, contributing to these challenges. Given the inherent risks of blood transfusions, it is essential for physicians to have a thorough understanding of potential complications to ensure informed consent, optimal patient care and appropriate resource management.
Aim: This study aims to assess intern doctors’ knowledge of transfusion medicine, identifying gaps in their understanding and highlighting areas for improvement in education and practice.
Setting: Port Elizabeth intern complex, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Methods: A validated exam with 20 questions was distributed to all interns within the Port Elizabeth intern complex. The exam assessed the transfusion medicine knowledge of intern doctors within the complex.
Results: The survey was completed by 87 intern doctors over four sites within the Port Elizabeth intern complex. An overall median score of 33% (standard error [s.e.] 1) was obtained by the participants. The category of the questionnaire that was answered poorly was transfusion reactions, with a median of 14.3%, and the categories that demonstrated better scores were transfusion thresholds and safe administration of blood products.
Conclusion: Intern doctors across the Port Elizabeth intern complex demonstrated inadequate transfusion medicine knowledge, especially relating to transfusion reactions. These findings require attention and action to improve our healthcare service.
Contribution: This study identifies significant gaps in intern doctors’ transfusion medicine knowledge, particularly regarding transfusion reactions, with implications for patient safety and resource use. It supports the need for targeted education to improve clinical practice. These findings align with the goals of anaesthetists, as safe and effective transfusion practice is central to perioperative and critical care within anaesthesia.