Perceptions About Blood Transfusion Therapy Among the General Public and Healthcare Professionals in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic Characteristics of Participants

General Public Characteristics (n = 400)		n (%)
Sex	Female	268 (67%)
	Male	132 (33%)
Age	20 to 29 years	215 (53.8%)
	30 to 39 years	58 (14.5%)
	40 to 49 years	50 (12.5%)
	50 to 60 years	77 (19.2%)
Education	Basic education (Primary/intermediate)	8 (2%)
	Secondary	66 (16.5%)
	Bachelor’s	294 (73.5%)
	Post-graduate education	32 (8%)
HCP characteristics (n = 135)		n (%)
Sex	Female	77 (57%)
	Male	58 (43%)
Profession	Physician	73 (54.1%)
	Nurse	62 (45.9%)
Specialty	Hematology	19 (14.1%)
	Internal medicine	18 (13.3%)
	Surgery	18 (13.3%)
	Obstetrics and Gynecology	7 (5.2%)
	Pediatrics	5 (3.7%)
	Anesthesiology	6 (4.4%)
	Others	62 (45.9%)
Seniority	Consultants	25 (24%)
	Specialists	35 (33.7%)
	Residents	44 (42.3%)

Abbreviation: HCP, healthcare provider.

Table 2 Acceptance Among Participants of Blood Transfusion Therapy (n = 400)

Attitude	n (%)
If your doctor suggested blood transfusion therapy, and he informed you that you required this blood transfusion, would you accept it?
Accepted	353 (88.2%)
Refused	47 (11.8%)
Those who accepted blood transfusions preferred the following donors (n = 353)
First-degree relatives	206 (58.4%)
Any person, it does not matter	130 (36.8%)
Husband/Wife	92 (26.1%)
Second-degree relatives	57 (16.1%)
Friends	11 (3.1%)
Far relatives (such as tribe members)	2 (0.5%)
Those who refused blood transfusions reported the following barriers (n = 47)
Fear of medical errors during a blood transfusion	24 (51.1%)
Fear of HBV/HCV/HIV and other blood-borne infections	14 (29.8%)
Insufficient alternatives	9 (19.1%)

Abbreviations: HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.

Table 3 Relationship Between Education Level and the Potential for Acute Allergic Reaction to Blood Transfusion Therapy (n = 400)

Character		Education n (%)				p-value
		Basic n = 8	Secondary n = 66	Bachelor’s n = 294	Post-Graduate n = 32
Awareness of allergic reaction as a complication of blood transfusion	Yes	0 (0%)	18 (27.3%)	108 (36.7%)	10 (31.2%)	0.021
	No	4 (50%)	13 (19.7%)	34 (11.6%)	4 (12.5%)
	Did not know	4 (50%)	35 (53%)	152 (51.7%)	18 (56.3%)

Table 4 HCPs Practice of Blood Transfusion Therapy Consent (n = 135)

Character	n (%)
Transfusion consent procedure form provides knowledge to patients who will undergo the consent process
Yes	119 (88.1%)
No	16 (11.9%)
Do you explain the benefits of blood transfusion when obtaining transfusion consent?
Yes	100 (74.1%)
No	8 (5.9%)
Not involved in the consent process	27 (20%)
Do you explain the risks of blood transfusion when obtaining transfusion consent?
Yes	90 (66.6%)
No	18 (13.3%)
Not involved in the consent process	27 (20%)
Do you explain alternatives to blood transfusion when obtaining transfusion consent?
Yes	72 (53.3%)
No	36 (26.7%)
Not involved in the consent process	27 (20%)

Abbreviation: HCP, healthcare provider.