{"title":"Paths to improve voluntary blood donation in mixed public/private blood donation systems such as in Lebanon?","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.05.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The World Health Organization advocates for the achievement of 100% voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRD) globally by the year 2020. However, until today, little was known in Lebanon regarding its actual rate or influencing factors, particularly donor motivations and behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of blood donors in Lebanon. The ultimate goals were to retain first-time donors, encourage them to become regular ones, and facilitate the transition from replacement donation to VNRD.</p></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><p>A multi-centric cross-sectional study was carried across the five governorates in Lebanon. A self-administered and structured questionnaire was used in this survey. Results were presented in terms of odds ratios, with statistical significance defined at a P value of 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Additionally, a benchmarking analysis of the situation of blood donation in Lebanon was also conducted, identifying several areas for improvement.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>A total of 620 blood donors participated in this study, with 21.3% being first-time donors and 78.7% repeat donors. While the latter were primarily motivated by self-esteem, solidarity or returning a favor (89%, 77.9% and 78.1%), the main obstacle for becoming regular donors was a lack of initiative (34.6%). Female donors (9.9% of the total) exhibited better knowledge (OR = 2.20, <em>p</em> = 0.011) and were more inclined to donate voluntarily (OR = 1.52, <em>p</em> = 0.048). Conversely, male donors were more likely to be repeat donors, often through replacement donation (OR = 2.95, <em>p</em> = 0.001).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>There is a significant disparity between the low rate of voluntary donation in Lebanon (22.2%) and the relatively high proportion of donors with adequate knowledge of the donation process (60.5%). Therefore, urgent action by public authorities, based on the evidence based strategies outlined in this article, is crucial to enhancing the voluntary donation rate in Lebanon.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23262,"journal":{"name":"Transfusion Clinique et Biologique","volume":"31 3","pages":"Pages 149-156"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141297654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Hippocratic principle “to help or at least to do no harm”","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.06.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.06.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Hippocrates’ teaching on the ethical and moral values of medicine have captivated physicians, scholars, and historians for over twenty-five centuries, enduring despite the challenges of applying moral guidance across diverse cultures. At the core of Hippocratic ethics is the human relationship between the physician and the patient, with an emphasis on the physician’s responsibility to assess potential harm involved in any attempt to heal. The Hippocratic principle <em>“to help, or at least to do no harm”</em> remains as relevant today as it was 2,500 years ago. In the modern context, it serves as a deontological imperative, reminding physicians to evaluate the risks of harm associated with any healing attempt. This concept aligns with the ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence, which are at the heart of Hippocratic medical ethics with timeless significance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23262,"journal":{"name":"Transfusion Clinique et Biologique","volume":"31 3","pages":"Pages 174-180"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141294062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Iron overload: The achilles heel of β-thalassemia","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Systematic transfusions coupled with iron chelation therapy have substantially improved the life expectancy of thalassemia patients in developed nations. As the human organism does not have a protective mechanism to remove excess iron, iron overload is a significant concern in thalassemia, leading to organ damage, especially in the heart and liver. Thus, iron chelation therapy is crucial to prevent or reverse organ iron overload. There are three widely used iron chelators, either as monotherapy or in combination. The choice of iron chelator depends on several factors, including local guidelines, drug availability, and the individual clinical scenario. Despite treatment advancements, challenges persist, especially in resource-limited settings, highlighting the need for improved global healthcare access. This review discusses clinical management, current treatments, and future directions for thalassemia, focusing on iron overload and its complications. Furthermore, it underscores the progress in transforming thalassemia into a manageable chronic condition and the potential of novel therapies to further enhance patient outcomes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23262,"journal":{"name":"Transfusion Clinique et Biologique","volume":"31 3","pages":"Pages 167-173"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141289092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Living with Thalassemia: A sufferer’s experience and personal views","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23262,"journal":{"name":"Transfusion Clinique et Biologique","volume":"31 3","pages":"Pages 127-129"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140905244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Forecasting demands of blood components based on prediction models","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.04.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>An adequate blood supply is an important guarantee for saving lives and protecting health. In order to manage the blood supply more effectively when the condition of demand and supply are uncertainty, it is very important to forecast the demands of blood resources.</p></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><p>SARIMAX model and LSTM model were integrated into the prediction system of blood station. The collection and supply data of blood components was directly imported into the forecasting models to achieve automatic data update and model update. The forecasting daily demands of apheresis platelets, washing red blood cells (RBCs), suspended RBCs and plasma were recorded from January to June 2023 and compared with real data.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The prediction models had good forecasting performances. In the goodness of fit results of apheresis platelet model, the maximum value of coefficient of determination (R2) could reach 87.6%, and the minimum value of the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was only 0.0037. The predicted data of washing RBCs could be basically fitted, and the MAPE was 0.0121. For the prediction of suspended RBCs, the R2 was greater than 66%, and the MAPE could be 0.0372. The plasma model generated very high goodness of fit results, with R2 of over 90% and the lowest MAPE of 0.0394.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The forecasting models, which predicts future demands of different blood components based on historical data, can help managers to overcome the challenges of blood stock control more effectively, thereby reducing blood waste and blood shortages.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23262,"journal":{"name":"Transfusion Clinique et Biologique","volume":"31 3","pages":"Pages 141-148"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140767198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Meteorological factors associated with the occurrence of the vasovagal reflex during blood donation","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23262,"journal":{"name":"Transfusion Clinique et Biologique","volume":"31 3","pages":"Pages 181-185"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140756961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The return rate of deferred blood donors in Iran","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.04.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.04.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and Objectives</h3><p>The process of selecting blood donors is crucial for keeping the health of donors and ensuring the safety of the blood supply. However, it may create unpleasant feeling in those who are deferred. In this study, we aim to explore the return rates of Iranian deferred donors in comparison with eligible donors.</p></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><p>The study included all whole blood donors referred between March 2017 and March 2018, who experienced temporary deferral for any reason. Donors who successfully donated blood during this period were also part of the study. Participants were followed up until their next donation attempt, spanning 4.8 years after initial inclusion. Then odds of return and median return time for both deferred and eligible donors were calculated.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>From 993,824 volunteers, 733,153 (73.77%) were eligible and 192,332 (19.35%) temporary deferred. The return rate in the eligible and deferred donors was 74.77% vs. 51.77%, respectively (OR:2.78; 99%CI: 2.71–2.81). Odds of return among deferred regular (OR = 7.02, 99%CI:6.64–7.42), men (OR: 2.57, 99%CI:2.45–2.69), and over 45 years (OR: 1.15, 99% CI: 1.09–1.20), was higher than first-time, women, and younger donors. The median return time for eligible and deferred donors was 315 (99%CI: 313–316) and 1,467(99%CI: 1,412–1,524) days, respectively.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This study revealed the negative effect of deferral on the return rate, that led to a 23% reduction in the return of deferred donors. Avoiding unnecessary deferral through adherence to the standard operating procedure of donor selection and effective counselling which clarifies the purpose of deferral and encourages them to return after the deferral period ends are recommended.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23262,"journal":{"name":"Transfusion Clinique et Biologique","volume":"31 3","pages":"Pages 135-140"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140774966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Current challenges of blood transfusions in patients with thalassemia in India and future perspectives","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.03.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.03.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The introduction of regular red blood cell transfusions transformed thalassemia major from a fatal childhood disease into a chronic disorder. Thalassemia is highly prevalent in South Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, and blood transfusion remains the cornerstone of management for these patients. But safe blood transfusions still remain a major problem in India. Difficulties in maintaining adequate blood inventory, a lack of a national blood act, and fragmented blood transfusion services are some of the major contributing factors for the delay in blood supply. In most of the blood centers, alloantibody detection facilities and extended red cell antigen typing are unavailable. Awareness is the key to reducing alloimmunization, which limits the effectiveness of transfusions and the potential availability of blood. Patients with thalassemia are also at high risk of transfusion-transmitted infections unless appropriate blood screening is in place. Hence, many patients remain under-transfused, resulting in decreased health and quality-of-life outcomes. Facilities such as leucoreduction and immunohematological monitoring following a blood transfusion are often lacking in India, especially at the sub-district level. Continuous efforts to raise community awareness, regular training of health-care workers, and proper utilization of available resources are essential to ensuring safe blood transfusions for patients with thalassemia. Access to the new treatments at an affordable cost may reduce the blood transfusion burden for thalassemia patients in India.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23262,"journal":{"name":"Transfusion Clinique et Biologique","volume":"31 3","pages":"Pages 162-166"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140186800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lorena dos Santos Goiabeira , Sara Silva Meireles , Allan Santos Silva Leocadio , Heitor J S Medeiros , Fernanda Cunha Soares , Wallace Andrino da Silva
{"title":"Intraoperative and immediate postoperative transfusion: Clinical-hematological profile of transfunded patients in a university hospital","authors":"Lorena dos Santos Goiabeira , Sara Silva Meireles , Allan Santos Silva Leocadio , Heitor J S Medeiros , Fernanda Cunha Soares , Wallace Andrino da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.03.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tracli.2024.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>The transfusion practice by surgery blood reserve, varied among services, must be performed through the rational and restrictive use of blood components because it is a scarce and expensive resource for health care services.</p></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><p>Analyze the use of blood products for surgery blood reserve by means of the study of the clinical-hematological profile of patients submitted to intraoperative and immediate postoperative transfusions.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>This was an observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study, conducted by collecting biological, operational, and laboratory variables, involving 680 patients at a university hospital who had elective surgery with surgery blood reserve request sent during the period from October 2021 to October 2022.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The overall transfusion rate was 25.44%, and the mean preoperative hemoglobin level of transfused patients was 9.74 ± 2.50 g/dL, with the mean number of transfusions packed red blood cell units was 1.58 ± 0.77. Patients with higher preoperative hemoglobin levels were less likely to have transfusion (<em>p</em> < 0.001) and patients who had surgical oncologic were more likely to require transfusion (<em>p</em> = 0.048). The transfusion rate of packed red blood cells and platelets concentrates, compared to what was requested, was 15.86% and 5.82%.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>There is a tendency of transfusions to follow restrictive models, with higher transfusion probability in surgical oncologic. Furthermore, there should be more a conscise use of the surgery blood reserves request.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":23262,"journal":{"name":"Transfusion Clinique et Biologique","volume":"31 2","pages":"Pages 102-107"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140095475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}