Blood Transfusion Requests by Junior Doctors in a District General Hospital

72 1024x768 Normal 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Abstract Aims – This point-perspective study was undertaken to assess whether junior doctors were completing blood transfusion requests correctly and whether the request forms met with National Guidelines. We initiated this study to highlight patient safety in blood transfusion. Methods – A point-perspective study over a one-week period, at a district general hospital. Transfusion request forms were compared to National Guidelines. Data was collected from junior doctors using a hypothetical clinical scenario and from transfusion requests on the wards. Qualitative variables were analysed in terms of frequency and percentage. Results – Transfusion request forms did not meet National Guidelines on two counts: the requesting doctor is not required to provide a signature or bleep number. In total 47 doctors completed transfusion requests using the hypothetical scenario. 47 (100%) provided a patient name and NHS number. 45 (96%) gave a date of birth. 44 (94%) stated clinical details and dated the request. 40 (85%) selected the gender of the patient. 24 doctors (51%) incorrectly signed the ‘Collected By’ box. Of 24 transfusion requests on the wards, 15 (63%) used patient identifier stickers and 9 (38%) did not. Only 5 of the 9 forms (56%) not using a patient sticker, provided adequate patient identifiers. 43 (92%) stated the date of the request. 45 doctors (96%) had printed their name. 18 doctors (38%) had inappropriately signed the ‘Collected By’ Box. Conclusions – Current transfusion request forms do not fully comply with National Guidelines. Pitfalls exist that may increase the incidence of human error in sample collection. Ongoing education is important but amendments to the request forms are needed to improve patient safety.