Community-Facility Transfusion Committees for Blood Transfusions

(CoBAnK Trial)

Overseen By Collin M Van Ryn

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Minnesota

Disqualifiers: Level 2 hospitals, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to improve blood availability and usage in hospitals by establishing Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs). These committees will include representatives from hospitals, the local community, and county leaders to ensure more efficient blood transfusions. The trial will compare hospitals using these committees to those that do not. Hospitals performing at least 20 blood transfusions a year without an on-site blood bank are well-suited for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to enhance blood transfusion practices in the community.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Community-Facility Transfusion Committees are safe?

Research has shown that Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs) improve the safety and management of blood transfusions. These committees ensure patients receive the correct blood at the right time, reducing complication risks.

Studies have found that these committees enhance knowledge about safe transfusion practices. For instance, one survey revealed that 89.3% of participants gained a better understanding of transfusion practices after joining these committees. This finding indicates that CFTCs play a crucial role in enhancing blood transfusion safety.

No direct negative effects have been linked to the committees themselves. Instead, they enhance safety by improving practices and oversight. This suggests that participating in a study involving CFTCs is generally safe and well-tolerated. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs) because they aim to improve how blood transfusions are managed by fostering collaboration between community and healthcare facilities. Unlike current practices that may lack structured community involvement, CFTCs create a formal platform for community input, potentially leading to more efficient use of blood resources and enhanced patient outcomes. This approach could revolutionize transfusion practices by ensuring that decisions are more informed by local needs and preferences, ultimately aiming to optimize blood supply and minimize waste.

What evidence suggests that Community-Facility Transfusion Committees are effective for improving blood transfusion availability?

This trial will evaluate the impact of establishing Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs) on blood transfusion practices. Research has shown that setting up CFTCs could improve blood transfusions. One study on managing patient blood found that organized programs can reduce unnecessary blood transfusions. This suggests that CFTCs might also enhance the efficiency and availability of blood transfusions where needed. Additionally, new methods in blood management have improved transfusion procedures, indicating that structured groups like CFTCs could be beneficial. Although direct evidence for CFTCs is limited, these findings support the idea that organized and strategic approaches can enhance transfusion practices. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for hospitals in Kenya that are level 3 or higher, have done at least 20 blood transfusions last year, and don't have a KTTA-approved blood bank on-site. They must get their blood from an Alpha Facility within the same county.

Inclusion Criteria

My hospital is certified for advanced medical care.

My treatment facility does not have an approved blood bank on site.

I receive blood transfusions from an Alpha Facility.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Implementation

Establishment and functioning of Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs) to improve blood availability and transfusion

Duration not specified

Evaluation

Evaluation of the CFTC strategy across nine transfusing facilities in three counties

Duration not specified

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Community-Facility Transfusion Committee (CFTC)

Trial Overview The study is testing if setting up Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs) with hospital, community, and leadership involvement can improve the availability of blood for transfusions at local care points.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: CFTC Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Community-Facility Transfusion Committees (CFTCs) will be established at the facilities randomized to this arm.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Minnesota

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,459

Recruited

1,623,000+

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Collaborator

Trials

3,987

Recruited

47,860,000+

University of Pittsburgh

Collaborator

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Strathmore University

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

50+

Center for Public Health and Development, Kenya (CPHD)

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

9+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme has analyzed 2630 transfusion safety events since its establishment in 1996, leading to key recommendations that have improved blood safety practices in the UK.

SHOT's findings have highlighted critical issues such as the decline in transfusion-related graft vs host disease due to leucodepletion, while also identifying transfusion-related acute lung injury and bacterial contamination as significant risks, prompting the development of targeted safety strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Serious hazards of transfusion: a decade of hemovigilance in the UK. Stainsby, D., Jones, H., Asher, D., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6164780/

Our Experience with Real-Time Clinical Decision Support Based on our experience, we conclude that real-time CDS built into the EMR per se may not be an effective way to improve blood transfusion practices at ...

2. americasblood.org americasblood.org/abc-newsletter/prehospital-blood-transfusion-report-draft-available-ahrq/

Prehospital Blood Transfusion Report Draft Available Explore the findings of the AHRQ prehospital blood transfusion report draft, assessing interventions for hemorrhagic shock and critical ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10890656/

Impact of Patient Blood Management on Red Blood Cell ... This study aimed to showcase how implementing a patient blood management (PBM) program effectively cuts unnecessary red blood cell (RBC) transfusions.

4. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2789396

Effectiveness of Enhanced Performance Feedback on ... No benefit of the enhanced interventions over standard feedback was observed in increasing appropriate use of blood transfusions.

5. thelancet.com thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(23)00564-8/fulltext

Innovative blood transfusion strategies to address global ... Develop and provide data management platforms for transfusion operations, encompassing donor communication and haemovigilance. Introduce robust information ...

6. westat.com westat.com/insights/blood-transfusion-safety/

Improving Blood Transfusion Safety and Clinical Practices By linking the donor, blood components, and recipient data, investigators can analyze all aspects of blood transfusion medicine using 1 database ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9623141/

Ways To Enhance Blood Transfusion Safety: A Systematic ... Although blood transfusion might lead to fewer complications in the ICU compared to general wards, it still may induce complications affecting patient safety.

8. cdc.gov cdc.gov/nhsn/biovigilance/blood-safety/index.html

Blood Safety | BV | NHSN Blood safety encompasses activities intended to mitigate risks of blood transfusion including, in part, donor selection, laboratory testing, component ...

9. journals.viamedica.pl journals.viamedica.pl/acta_haematologica_polonica/article/view/88144

assessment by personnel involved in blood therapy A survey completed by 3,885 responders revealed that 89.3% gained additional knowledge in transfusion practice, and 87.6% believed that this ...

10. aabb.org aabb.org/aabb-store/product/the-transfusion-committee-putting-patient-safety-first-3rd-edition-print-19097457

The Transfusion Committee: Putting Patient Safety First ... This book will help you recognize the importance of a transfusion review committee in the evolution toward a patient blood management environment.