Clinical Audit of Blood Component Transfusion in Tabriz

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Thalassemia patients need regular blood product transfusions. Implementation of safe blood transfusion depends on nursing knowledge and also skill in implementing appropriate nursing interventions thus may increase the survival of the patients with thalassemia. So ensuring compliance of the nursing care guidelines for safe blood transfusions is of great importance. The present study aimed to audit the nursing standards of safe blood transfusion among nurses working in Tabriz Children's Hospital. Materials/Patients and Methods: This was a action research in which the study population consisted of all the nurses working in blood clinic and the wards of the Children Hospital of Tabriz. The instrument utilized was a two part questionnaire: the first part consisted of occupational and demographic characteristics of the participants and the second was a typical nursing performance checklist for evaluating the current status of blood transfusion services and related nursing cares. The researcher observed 106 cases of blood production transfusions in children whit thalassemia that was performed by 11 cases of nurses during morning shifts. Data were analyzed using SPSS/13. Results: Approximately; 63.6% of nurses participating in this study (45.5% once a year and 18.2% twice a year) had spent courses of blood transfusion. Practice of nurses in 46/8% cases of checklist, was consistent with the standards, entirely. Nurses wash their hands and wear latex gloves before beginning blood transfusion process; only in 0/9% of cases and in 97/2% of cases, wrist strap had used to identify the child. Discussion: Findings revealed that nurses’ overall compliance with the blood transfusion guidance was favorable although in some other cases the results were not quite as expected indicating necessity for improving the quality of the therapeutic process. Accordingly given the weaknesses of nurses is needed.