title: Hemolysis from a nurses' standpoint--survey from four Croatian hospitals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hemolysis can occur during sample collection, handling and transport. It is more frequent when the non-laboratory staff performs sampling. The aim of this study was to assess nurses' knowledge on the causes of hemolysis and consequential impact on the laboratory tests results. Additionally, the differences in knowledge, related to work experience, professional degree and previous education about hemolysis were explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymus survey, containing 11 questions on demographics, causes of hemolysis, its impact on biochemical parameters and nurses' attitude towards additional education in preanalytics, was conducted in four Croatian hospitals. The answers were compared by Chi-squared and Fischer exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 562 survey results were collected. Majority of nurses declared familiarity with the term "hemolysis" (99.6%). There were 77% of correct answers regarding questions about the causes of hemolysis, but only 50% when it comes to questions about interference in biochemical tests. The percentage of correct answers about causes was significantly lower (P=0.029) among more experienced nurses, and higher (P=0.027) in those with higher professional degree, while influence of previous education was not significant. Also, higher percentage of correct answers about interferences was encountered in nurses with longer work experience (P=0.039). More than 70% of nurses declared that additional education about preanalytical factors would be beneficial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Croatian nurses are familiar with the definition of hemolysis, but a lack of knowledge about causes and influence on laboratory test results is evident. Nurses are eager to improve their knowledge in this field of preanalytical phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Hematology, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Adrijana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dorotić
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antončić
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vanja Radišić
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Biljak
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nedić
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Andjelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beletić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000451:nursing*; D017523:Croatia; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006461:Hemolysis; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000193:education; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000451:nursing; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011804:Quinolines; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011804:Quinolines; C416050:complex R; D011188:Potassium
keywords: hemolysis; nurses; preanalytical phase; survey