334 posters, 125 sessions, 831 authors, 236 institutions

78th Annual PostGraduate Assembly in Anesthesiology (PGA78) 2024

December 6 - 9, 2024 | New York City

4123

Course evaluation of Transfusion Camp in Rwanda: a multidisciplinary initiative teaching Rwandan physicians, nurses, and lab scientists how to utilize blood products and derivatives safely in district hospitals

Preview of Course evaluation of Transfusion Camp in Rwanda: a multidisciplinary initiative teaching Rwandan physicians, nurses, and lab scientists how to utilize blood products and derivatives safely in district hospitals

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Poster Presenter

McKenna Postles

Authors

McKenna Postles, Sophie Chargé, Aggrey Dhabangi, Theophile Dusengumuremyi, Christopher Gashaija, Aimable Kanyamuhunga, Swaibu Katare, Yulia Lin, Florence Masaisa, Thaddeus Masawa, Gatwiri Murithi, Thomas Muyombo, Fabrice Ndicunguye, Francoise Nizeyimana, Edwin Oduor, Stephen Okelo, Jacob Pendergrast, Teresa Skelton, Claudine Uzamukunda

Affiliations

University of Toronto, Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, BC Children’s Hospital, Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Makere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda, RD4 consultant in East and Central Africa, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, University of Rwanda, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, University of Rwanda, Sunnybrook Health Sciences & Department of Lab Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Maseno University School of Medicine, Center for Public Health and Development, Kisumu, Kenya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH)

Part of Topic

Title: Course evaluation of Transfusion Camp in Rwanda: a multidisciplinary initiative teaching transfusion medicine to Rwandan physicians, nurses, and lab scientists

Authors: McKenna Postles1, Stephen Okelo2, Yulia Lin3,4, Fabrice Ndicunguye5, Aimable Kanyamuhunga6, Francoise Nizeyimana7,8, Florence Masaisa9, Jacob Pendergrast10, Christopher Gashaija5, Claudine Uzamukunda7,8, Aggrey Dhabangi11, Gatwiri Murithi12, Edwin Oduor13, Thaddeus Jude Masawa14, Thomas Muyombo5, Sophie Chargé15, Teresa Skelton1

Background:

•Transfusion medicine: multidisciplinary field closely linked to safe anesthesia and surgery1

•In almost every specialty, physicians and nurses prescribe, manage, or monitor transfusions and their reactions2

•Partnerships between anesthesia, surgery, and transfusion medicine are essential to conserve and properly administer limited blood products3

•Transfusion Camp in Rwanda: multidisciplinary, collaborative education model designed and delivered in Canada and now taught in Rwanda

•Aims to provide a strong baseline knowledge of transfusion medicine for non-transfusion specialty trainees

•Previous course feedback recommended the implementation of an annual multi-day Transfusion Camp in Rwanda and encouraged the expansion of the course to neighboring countries, including Uganda and Kenya, led by Rwandan faculty2

Objectives: To evaluate the implementation of a modified version of the Transfusion Camp curriculum through course evaluations and a course debrief

Methods:

Educational assessment and evaluation

Sample size: 116 Rwandan physicians, nurses, and laboratory scientists

Curriculum: Red blood cell, platelet, plasma and cryoprecipitate transfusion, pediatric transfusion, massive hemorrhage protocol and simulation

Outcomes:

1.Pre- vs post-course self-assessments of transfusion medicine knowledge, skills, confidence, and available resources

2.Course evaluation

Analysis: Tabulation and graphical display of Likert scale responses. Differences between pre- and post-course groups evaluated via Chi-squared tests

Results:

Demographics:

•Pre-course (58 respondents): 24 physicians, 17 laboratory scientists, and 17 nurses

•Post-course (62 respondents): 16 physicians, 30 laboratory scientists, and 16 nurses

Outcomes:

•Knowledge of transfusion medicine: rated advanced or expert 17/58 (29%) pre- and 60/62 (97%) post-course (p<0.0001)

•Confidence in caring for patients following Rwanda transfusion medicine guidelines: rated good or excellent 44/58 (76%) pre- and 60/61 (98%) post-course (p=0.0002)

•Positive feedback was obtained from a variety of medical disciplines

Conclusion:

Course implementation of the modified Transfusion Camp in Rwanda improved self-rated knowledge and confidence in the use of clinical blood products and obtained positive course feedback to inform future courses. Future studies will evaluate knowledge acquisition via standardized knowledge-assessment tools. Future curriculum enhancement will focus on the use of whole blood and the management of transfusion in sickle cell disease for course adaptation in Kenya and Uganda.