Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research
Published on: November 26, 2015
National Comparative Audit of Blood Transfusion: report on the 2014 audit of patient information and consent
C Booth1, J Grant-Casey2, D Lowe3
1Department of Haematology Barts Health NHS Trust London, UK.
Insights
Improving blood transfusion consent practices is crucial. Documentation and patient information provision require enhancement, alongside strengthened clinician training, to meet national guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Quality and Safety
- Patient Consent Procedures
- Clinical Governance
Background:
- National guidelines recommend valid consent and documented records for blood transfusions.
- Standardized patient information sources are advised but historically inconsistent.
- The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) set standards in 2011.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate current practices for obtaining blood transfusion consent in UK hospitals.
- To assess the provision of patient information regarding blood transfusions.
- To identify areas for improvement in transfusion consent and information processes.
Main Methods:
- A 3-month audit of case notes across UK hospitals in 2014.
- Simultaneous surveys of patients and healthcare staff.
- Review of 2784 transfusion episodes across 164 hospital sites.
Main Results:
- 85% of sites had a transfusion consent policy, but only 43% documented consent in case notes.
- Patient recall of information varied: 68% for benefits, 38% for risks, 8% for alternatives.
- While 85% of staff reported explaining transfusion reasons, only 65% documented it; 41% had recent consent training.
Conclusions:
- Clinical practice for obtaining valid blood transfusion consent needs improvement, focusing on documentation.
- Patient information provision, particularly regarding risks and alternatives, requires significant enhancement.
- Strengthening clinician training on transfusion consent is essential to align with guidelines.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess current practices around obtaining consent for blood transfusion and provision of patient information in hospitals across the UK and identify areas for improvement.
Background:
Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) (2011) state that valid consent should be obtained for blood transfusion and documented in clinical records. A standardised source of information should be available to patients. Practices in relation to this have historically been inconsistent.
Methods:
The consent process was studied in hospitals across the UK over a 3-month period in 2014 by means of an audit of case notes and simultaneous surveys of patients and staff.
Results:
In total, 2784 transfusion episodes were reviewed across 164 hospital sites. 85% of sites had a policy on consent for transfusion. Consent was documented in 43% of case notes. 68% of patients recalled being given information on benefits of transfusion, 38% on risks and 8% on alternatives and 28% reported receiving an information leaflet. In total, 85% of staff stated they had explained the reason for transfusion, but only 65% had documented this. 41% of staff had received training specifically on transfusion consent in the last 2 years.
Conclusions:
There is a need to improve clinical practice in obtaining valid consent for transfusion in line with existing national guidelines and local Trust policies, with emphasis on documentation within clinical records. Provision of patient information is an area particularly highlighted for action, and transfusion training for clinicians should be strengthened.
More Related Videos
08:01Biobank for Translational Medicine: Standard Operating Procedures for Optimal Sample Management
Published on: November 30, 2022
07:40Preparation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Pellets and Plasma from a Single Blood Draw at Clinical Trial Sites for Biomarker Analysis
Published on: March 20, 2021
Related Concept Videos
01:15Blood Transfusion
Blood Transfusion Overview
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure used to replace blood lost due to injury, surgery, or to treat conditions such as anemia or cancer. During a transfusion, donor blood is...
01:23Ethical Standards II
Nurses are entrusted with upholding various ethical principles and standards. Nurses forge solid therapeutic relationships using trust, empathy, autonomy, confidentiality, and professional competence.
Confidentiality is crucial, embodying respect for individual privacy...
01:27Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
01:27Nurses' Legal Responsibilities I
The legal responsibilities of a nurse regarding informed consent include the following:
02:45Blood Transfusion and Agglutination
History
The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...
01:25Ethical Standards I
The Code of Ethics provisions outline the nurse's duty to the patient, the healthcare team, the profession, and society. The Code's fundamental principles include advocacy,...