Syrian private university students' awareness of blood transfusion strategies at perioperative period

Abstract

Abstract Background Anesthesiologists are involved in most blood transfusions during the perioperative period, trauma resuscitation, critical care, and obstetric hemorrhage. Transfusion refers to the administration of blood and blood products, such as whole blood, packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets, and concentrated fibrinogen etc. These products aim to maintain the ability to carry oxygen and restore the blood clotting property. This study aims to know the awareness of Syrian Private University students about modern strategies for blood transfusion in the perioperative period. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that used a questionnaire in the form of an electronic survey that was administered among medical college students at the Syrian Private University. 277 students answered the questionnaire. The electronic questionnaire included a set of variables, including demographic and personal information for students, variables about indications for blood transfusion during surgery, rules for preserving blood, and a study of knowledge about how to transfer, use, and methods of preserving blood products and their benefits. Results The average of the students’ answers about the indications for blood transfusion during surgery was 1.81 ± 1.5, and the average of the students’ answers about the issues that they should take into consideration when transfusing blood was 2.93 ± 2.203. The majority of the students answered correctly when asked about the rules for blood preservation, and the average of the students’ answers about knowledge with the rules for dealing with a blood sample of 1.92 ± 0.96, the majority of students answered correctly when asked about concentrated red blood cells, and the average answers when asked about platelets and plasma was 4.31 ± 2.36, and the average answers of students when asked about complications was 4.31 ± 232. In our study, the percentage of female knowledge was higher Among males (statistical significance = less than 0.05), except for the rules of blood conservation and knowledge of red blood cells, knowledge was greater among males (statistical significance = less than 0.05). Conclusion The degree of students’ knowledge about the indications for blood transfusion, the matters that must be taken into consideration during blood transfusion during surgery, the rules of blood preservation, and knowledge about platelets and plasma, was weak and below the expected level, while their degree of knowledge about the complications of blood transfusion was good.