Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Blood Transfusion Protocols
Introduction
Blood transfusions are critical in treating various diseases, yet they carry
risks, particularly when errors occur. Clerical mistakes, such as administering blood to the
wrong patient, are the leading cause of transfusion reactions, which can be fatal. Although
physicians prescribe transfusions, nurses are essential in administering, monitoring, and
managing them, making competence in this area imperative.
Objectives
This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of registered
nurses at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) regarding proper blood
transfusion procedures and their ability to identify and manage transfusion reactions.
Method
Using a revised Routine Blood Transfusion Knowledge Questionnaire (RBTKQ),
this cross-sectional study surveyed 93 registered nurses from seven departments: ICU,
CICU, HDU, BCU, AE, and Medical & Surgical wards. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS 25
software, employing descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests to explore relationships.
Results
The mean knowledge score was 21.3 ± 4.1, and the mean attitude score was 5.86 ±
1.3. The results showed that 72% of nurses had average knowledge, 10% had poor
knowledge, and 17.2% had good knowledge. No significant associations were found between
knowledge and demographic variables. However, a positive attitude towards blood
transfusion was significantly associated with working in critical care areas. Regarding
transfusion reactions, 41.9% of nurses could correctly identify all signs, and only 14% could
initiate appropriate actions to manage them.
Conclusion
This study highlights significant gaps in nurses’ knowledge and practices
related to blood transfusions and managing transfusion reactions, underscoring the need
for improved training and protocol adherence at GPHC.
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