title: An audit of the use of platelet transfusions at Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
abstract: An audit was performed at a tertiary hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa, to establish whether clinicians adhered to local platelet transfusion guidelines. The audit showed poor compliance with local guidelines, with 34% of platelet transfusions not aligned with guidelines and 29.9% of transfusions administered to patients with platelet counts of ≥ 150 × 10(9)/L. When compared to medical disciplines, surgical disciplines tended significantly more to transfuse platelets inappropriately (17.1% and 53.7%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Documentation was poor and in 48.4% of orders for platelets, the indication for the platelet transfusion was not clearly stated. Considerable cost could be avoided with improved adherence to guidelines. This study emphasises the need for improving education in transfusion medicine amongst medical doctors. It is hoped that the information gleaned from this study would assist in the design of educational programmes in transfusion medicine as we attempt to close the existing gaps in knowledge and skills in the field, while ensuring that blood is transfused in a cost-effective and appropriate manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Electronic address: phsonnekus@gmail.com.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sonnekus
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Haematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Louw
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Haematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000191:economics*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000191:economics*
keywords: Platelets; alignment; audit; compliance; guidelines; transfusion