Blood Myths and Ethnic–Cultural Background as Impediments in Patient Blood Management Education

Andrei Braester, Luiza Akria, Orly Yakir, Liron Shelev, Masad Barhoum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

A significant percentage of red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs) are the result of overuse. The implementation of patient blood management (PBM) is challenging. We examined whether blood-linked myths and ethnic–cultural background factors are impediments to PBM education and implementation. Data about the influence of blood myths and diverse ethnic–cultural communities were collected from physicians in our medical center via an anonymous questionnaire which contained questions about myths as well as knowledge of blood transfusion. No statistical differences were found between ethnic and cultural groups regarding blood myths and cultural background influence, although the Jewish participants were less influenced by myths than their Arab colleagues. The influence of blood myths concerning the decision to transfuse exists in both studied ethnic groups. With regard to the association between knowledge and myths influence, we found that the greater the knowledge of the participant, the lower was the myths influence. In a significant proportion of our physician cohort, blood myths and cultural–ethnic status influenced their approach toward RBCT and can be considered an impediment in PBM education. A high knowledge level is associated with less myths influence. The myths and cultural–ethnic background may play a role in PBM education.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2918-2927
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Religion and Health
Volume59
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Keywords

  • Blood myths
  • Education
  • Ethnicity
  • Implementation
  • Patient blood management
  • Restrictive blood transfusion

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