[Degree of patient education retardation preoperative autologous blood donation at a university clinic].

Abstract

Objective: Uncovering the low degree of information in autologous blood donors for the purpose of implementation of corrective measures.

Design: Questionnaire for autologous blood donors.

Setting: Department for Transfusion Medicine of a University Clinic.

Participants: 174 autologous blood donors, selected by their responsible physician between June 1, 1995 and August 1, 1995.

Results: 64 (36.8%) of 174 patients who were admitted for withdrawal of autologous blood units had been informed by their treating physician, 100 (57.5%) of them came without any information and 10 (5.7%) on their own initiative. Of the 110 patients who had not been informed by their physician 16 declared to be sufficiently informed on risks or alternatives of allogeneic blood transfusion by mass media. Within the group of informed patients the percentage of those who did not fear allogeneic blood transfusions was clearly lower (23.4%) than within the group of uninformed patients (35.5%). Irrational fears were found less in informed than in uninformed patients (12.2% vs. 16.9%, informed vs. uninformed).

Conclusions: Increasing numbers of patients are enrolled in allogeneic blood-saving programs, but still the degree of information does not seem to be sufficient. Because of the fact that information has to be given before the admission of the patient to the transfusion department, an enforced educational program on legal and medical issues of allogeneic blood transfusion for all medical disciplines involved is urgently required.