title: The long-term effects of training interventions on transfusion practice: a follow-up audit of red cell concentrate utilisation at Kimberley Hospital, South Africa.
abstract: This audit in chronically anaemic adult patients assesses whether red cell concentrate is transfused according to guidelines, and evaluates the impact of training interventions, compared with a similar audit conducted in 2010. Retrospectively, 25 transfusion episodes were audited for appropriateness, the investigation of anaemia, threshold achievement, wastage, and informed consent. After training interventions, a further 25 episodes were prospectively analysed. The effects of current training interventions were not shown to have a statistically significant impact. Compared to a 2010 audit, however, a statistically significant improvement was demonstrated in transfusion practice, suggesting that training interventions may lead to sustainable long-term improvements.
authors.affiliation: National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Kimberley, South Africa; Department of Haematology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Electronic address: joubertj@ufs.ac.za.
authors.forename: Jaco
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kimberley Hospital Complex, Kimberley, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sunette
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raubenheimer
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Haematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: Vernon
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Louw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D013019:South Africa
keywords: audit; red cell transfusion; transfusion training