KNOWLEDGE OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION ADVERSE REACTION MANAGEMENT AMONG NURSES’ WORKING IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Blood transfusion can save lives, but its risks cannot be ignored. Improper management of transfusion-associated reactions can lead to severe consequences. Nurses, as an integral part of the transfusions process, require prompt recognition and effective management of transfusion reaction to ensure patient safety. Objective The objective of this study was to assess  nurses' knowledge regarding the management of transfusion-associated complications in tertiary care hospitals. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among registered nurses working in a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Islamabad. A total of 204 nurses participated through simple random sampling. The routine blood transfusion knowledge questionnaire was adapted from a previous study, and <50%, 50%-74%, or >75% of knowledge was considered poor, moderate, or high, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27 focusing on calculating means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages. Results According to the findings, the average knowledge score was 69.95% ± 19.48%, indicating their knowledge as moderate. Nurses scored 72.3% on hospital transfusion policies and 67.62% on knowledge of transfusion-related complications. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight that while nurses were aware of managing transfusion reactions, there is still a lack of specialized training and a need to motivate nurses’ to take part in ongoing education programs and promote enrollment in certification courses, which will eventually enhance patient outcomes by advancing best practices and expanding knowledge of transfusion safety.