Rationalising blood tests in a resource-limited emergency unit: A quality improvement project
Background: In resource-limited emergency settings, blood testing is crucial for diagnostics but can lead to financial strain and diagnostic challenges if used indiscriminately. This quality improvement project (QIP) aimed to identify commonly requested blood tests in an emergency department (ED), a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-02-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6067 |
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| author | Renette Esterhuizen Lilani I. Tribelhorn Danielle M.J. Thomas Eugenne Elliott Talat Habib Arun Nair |
| author_facet | Renette Esterhuizen Lilani I. Tribelhorn Danielle M.J. Thomas Eugenne Elliott Talat Habib Arun Nair |
| author_sort | Renette Esterhuizen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In resource-limited emergency settings, blood testing is crucial for diagnostics but can lead to financial strain and diagnostic challenges if used indiscriminately. This quality improvement project (QIP) aimed to identify commonly requested blood tests in an emergency department (ED), assess their appropriateness, and establish evidence-based guidelines for judicious use. This project was conducted during the family medicine rotation of interns at a tertiary hospital in a semi-urban area.
Methods: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method was employed. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected. An educational intervention, featuring informative visual aids was implemented to help guide the medical practitioners in the unit on appropriate blood test ordering.
Results: The intervention led to a significant 48.7% reduction in total daily blood tests ordered, with a notable decrease in full-panel requests and an increase in individual test ordering.
Conclusion: Educational interventions, aimed at guiding blood test requests, can significantly reduce unnecessary testing. Long-term data collection is necessary to confirm sustained changes in practice.
Contribution: Our findings indicate that clear, evidence-based guidelines for the judicious use of blood tests can positively impact test ordering, particularly in resource-limited settings, and suggest opportunities for further long-term studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dd50d51011274801a17386a63da118ca |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-dd50d51011274801a17386a63da118ca2025-02-11T13:26:42ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042025-02-01671e1e510.4102/safp.v67i1.60674822Rationalising blood tests in a resource-limited emergency unit: A quality improvement projectRenette Esterhuizen0Lilani I. Tribelhorn1Danielle M.J. Thomas2Eugenne Elliott3Talat Habib4Arun Nair5Northern Cape Department of Health, Faculty of Family Medicine, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, KimberleyNorthern Cape Department of Health, Faculty of Family Medicine, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, KimberleyNorthern Cape Department of Health, Faculty of Family Medicine, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, KimberleyNational Health Laboratory Service, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, KimberleyDepartment of Family Medicine, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, Kimberley, South Africa; and Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinNorthern Cape Department of Health, Faculty of Family Medicine, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, Kimberley, South Africa; and Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinBackground: In resource-limited emergency settings, blood testing is crucial for diagnostics but can lead to financial strain and diagnostic challenges if used indiscriminately. This quality improvement project (QIP) aimed to identify commonly requested blood tests in an emergency department (ED), assess their appropriateness, and establish evidence-based guidelines for judicious use. This project was conducted during the family medicine rotation of interns at a tertiary hospital in a semi-urban area. Methods: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method was employed. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected. An educational intervention, featuring informative visual aids was implemented to help guide the medical practitioners in the unit on appropriate blood test ordering. Results: The intervention led to a significant 48.7% reduction in total daily blood tests ordered, with a notable decrease in full-panel requests and an increase in individual test ordering. Conclusion: Educational interventions, aimed at guiding blood test requests, can significantly reduce unnecessary testing. Long-term data collection is necessary to confirm sustained changes in practice. Contribution: Our findings indicate that clear, evidence-based guidelines for the judicious use of blood tests can positively impact test ordering, particularly in resource-limited settings, and suggest opportunities for further long-term studies.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6067blood testsemergency unitquality improvementresource utilisationevidence-based guidelines |
| spellingShingle | Renette Esterhuizen Lilani I. Tribelhorn Danielle M.J. Thomas Eugenne Elliott Talat Habib Arun Nair Rationalising blood tests in a resource-limited emergency unit: A quality improvement project South African Family Practice blood tests emergency unit quality improvement resource utilisation evidence-based guidelines |
| title | Rationalising blood tests in a resource-limited emergency unit: A quality improvement project |
| title_full | Rationalising blood tests in a resource-limited emergency unit: A quality improvement project |
| title_fullStr | Rationalising blood tests in a resource-limited emergency unit: A quality improvement project |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rationalising blood tests in a resource-limited emergency unit: A quality improvement project |
| title_short | Rationalising blood tests in a resource-limited emergency unit: A quality improvement project |
| title_sort | rationalising blood tests in a resource limited emergency unit a quality improvement project |
| topic | blood tests emergency unit quality improvement resource utilisation evidence-based guidelines |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6067 |
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