Trends of utilization of Complete Blood Count parameters for patient management among doctors in Azad Kashmir

Area of Science:

• Clinical Pathology
• Hematology

Background:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a fundamental laboratory test.
• Understanding physician utilization patterns of CBC parameters is crucial for optimizing diagnostic strategies.
• Current trends in CBC parameter usage among healthcare professionals in Kashmir, Pakistan, are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utilization trends of Complete Blood Count (CBC) parameters in patient management by doctors in Kashmir, Pakistan.
• To identify which CBC parameters are most frequently used by physicians.
• To assess physician perceptions regarding the adequacy of information provided in CBC reports.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was conducted among doctors in four hospitals in Kashmir, Pakistan.
• Data were collected between August and December 2017.
• The survey assessed the perceived utility of 11 CBC parameters in patient management.

Main Results:

• A response rate of 43.4% was achieved, with 217 out of 500 physicians completing the questionnaire.
• Hemoglobin, white blood cell count, and platelets were identified as frequently or always useful by over 80% of physicians.
• The remaining eight CBC parameters were considered useful by less than 80% of respondents, although most physicians found the current CBC report format adequate.

Conclusions:

• The majority of physicians in Kashmir predominantly utilize only three core parameters of the Complete Blood Count (CBC).
• There is a potential need for educational initiatives to enhance physician awareness and utilization of the full spectrum of CBC parameters.
• Optimizing the use of all CBC parameters could lead to more comprehensive patient assessment and management.