[Implication of nurses in transfusion safety: knowledge assessment and practice evaluation at the Gustave-Roussy institute].

BACKGROUND

A first survey on nurses transfusion practices at our Hospital revealed poor knowledge. Good Transfusion Practices were written, a training program was implemented and a second survey was carried out two years later. STUDY DESIGN AN METHODS: We conducted the second survey in which 4 of the questions were identical to those in the first survey in order to assess the impact of this training strategy. The 4 questions were on blood sample identification, checking patient identification, checking "use by date" on blood product bag and the pre-transfusion bedside compatibility test. Behaviours were evaluated by checking the pre-transfusion procedures, including interpretation of bedside compatibility tests. We investigated the impact of attendance at the training course, the period of employment, day versus night shift and attempted to correlate these factors with the results of the second survey.

RESULTS

A significant improvement was observed in knowledge of Good Practices between the first and the second survey (P = 10(-4)). However, the multivariate analysis showed that the impact of training was heterogeneous. Pre-transfusion protocol checks have improved significantly (P = 0.05) as well as pre-transfusion bedside compatibility test interpretation of ABO compatibility (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

In our study, the implementation of Good practices has significantly improved nurses' knowledge about transfusion safety requirements but it is essential to continue and adapt the training and cheek regularly the impact of these implementations.