title: Transfusion Consent in Oman: Physicians' Perception at a Tertiary Care University Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transfusion is a common intervention that mandates the discussion of benefits, risks, and alternatives to planned transfusions. In Oman, transfusion consent was first introduced at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in March 2014. We sought to evaluate our physicians' opinions, attitudes, and perception of the transfusion consent process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Attending physicians of different specialties were invited to complete an anonymous survey on transfusion consent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 114 physicians responded to the survey. Transfusion benefits and risks were explained regularly by 91% and 87% of the surveyed physicians, respectively. On the other hand, alternatives were declared by only 38%. Discomfort with the consent process was admitted by 10% of the physicians. There was no statistically significant association between discomfort in obtaining the consent and the physician seniority (p = 0.801), nor their specialties (p = 0.623). The importance of the consent process was acknowledged by 80% of surveyed physicians, who supported its implementation in other hospitals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey reflects positive attitudes of the surveyed physicians on the importance of transfusion consent. However, actions are required to achieve physicians' full ease with the process and to ensure that transfusion alternatives are discussed. We advocate implementation of transfusion consent in other hospitals in Oman.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Arwa Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Al-Riyami
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al-Marshoodi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Fehmida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Huneini
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Abdul Hakim
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Al-Rawas
authors.affiliation: Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Sachin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman; College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Shahina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daar
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Murtadha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Khabori
authors.affiliation: Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, Oman; Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Hilal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Sabti
keywords: Blood Transfusion; Health Plan Implementation; Informed Consent; Surveys and Questionnaires